FIXTITLE Toby Tyler.docx
HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW
The Story
Of
The late, Toby Tyler
Robert Dwight Tyler, or many knew him as Toby, passed away August 26th, 2010 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. When Toby received his initial diagnosis that March, his loved ones were only given less than six months to prepare.
Originally from Moulton, Alabama and the youngest of seven children, Toby was blessed with a number of talents. After high school, he enlisted in the Navy and dedicated four years of service. Later he dabbled in music, playing different gigs to pay the bills. He stuck to singing his genre of music; country and old rock, while choosing his instrument of choice. Most of the time bass guitar. He was playing up north at a bar in Michigan when he met his wife, Sharla. Two years later, in 1972 the couple wed. With everything lining up just the way he wanted it, he was also ready to make a change in his career.
“We were married 43 years and I’ll never find another man like him. He was a great husband! Anything I ever wanted or needed, he gave me. He was funny, sensitive and extremely lovable,” Sharla says.
Their daughter, Bobbie Jo was born in 1973. Toby has four daughters from a previous relationship. He pursued trucking as a means of living to provide for his growing family. After 12 years of driving as a company driver, Toby took one more leap.
In 1987, Toby relocated his family back to his home town of Moulton and purchased his first truck. It was a 1975 International Cabover. He leased to a company pulling flatbed and took to the roads. Traveling across the country, anywhere from two to three weeks at a time didn’t allow him to get home as often as he wanted.
Sharla states, “He wasn’t able to be home with us much, but he was a good dad. A bit strict of course, but still very loving.”
Bobbie Jo’s memories of her father still come with a sting, as she holds her composure to keep from letting the sadness take over. Toby started trucking when Bobbie Jo was only a few years old. Any time she could crawl up in her daddy’s truck and sit next to him, she did.
“I grew up in a truck. Over the years, that’s how I learned how to drive. He trained my mom too. Then I even married a trucker and I still drive today,” says Bobbie Jo.
When a person so dear to your heart and involved in your life is no longer within reach, it’s hard to accept. Missing her father’s voice, his guidance and most of all, his hugs is overwhelming on certain days.
“I still have his CB in my truck. Whenever I have any problems I’ll say, ‘Daddy I need your help…’ and he never lets me down.”
One of Bobbie Jo’s favorite and most treasured memories with her dad go back to when she was seven. It was Easter and he had bought her a beautiful purple outfit, with white dress shoes and a cute, little purse to match.
“It was like I was a princess. Being the tomboy that I was as a kid, this was the first time that I felt like my daddy acknowledged I was a little girl. As odd as it sounds, that day was so special to me in so many ways. The way he looked at me all dolled up… the way all fathers look at their sweet babies with such love.”
From 1987 to 1991, Toby hauled custom vehicles then switched to pulling mobile homes. After his first year as an owner operator, Toby began teaching Sharla the tricks of the trade. By 1992, Toby had bought a 1980 Ford Cabover and each had their own truck pulling mobile homes. For 15 years, Toby and Sharla worked the southeast and Midwest regions. Toby continued to drive until his illness took precedence. During his 35 years of trucking, he accumulated over 3 million safe miles. He was given multiple safety driving awards. What Bobbie Jo and Sharla value the most now that Toby is gone, are the memories they shared together.
Toby lived a long, happy life and throughout his 70 years he met many people, made many friends and loved his family just as much as they loved him. No matter how many years pass, as Bobbie Jo continues her own career as a professional truck driver, she will always consider herself a daddy’s girl.