A memorial celebration and fellowship were held Tuesday at Northside Assembly of God church in Turlock for Janel Gay Livingston Tyson, 58, of Turlock. She died peacefully on Nov. 12, 2008.
Born Aug. 23, 1950 in Modesto, Janel grew up on a farm in Ceres where her family raised almonds and boysenberries. In 1968 she graduated from Ceres High School where she was a yell leader and a cheerleader. Mrs. Tyson was extremely active in the drug and alcohol rehabilitation community. In 1989 she moved back to San Francisco to earn her credentials as a Chemical Dependency Specialist from JFK University in Berkeley. Janel began her career at The Salvation Army's (ARC) Adult Rehabilitation Center. She then moved back to Modesto working at First-Step of Stanislaus County. In the early 1990s Janel was an instrumental driving force in opening Laura's House, the first women's sober living program in Modesto. She also served as the facility's program director. In 1999 Janel and her husband decided to move to Kailua and Kaneohe on Oahu, Hawaii where she spent time working with drug- and alcohol-addicted youth. In 2004 Mrs. Tyson opened sober living facilities in Turlock. Until the time of her passing she faithfully continued her God-fueled passion to assist men and women in the fight to get their lives back from the grips of drug and alcohol addiction. Janel was a member of the Northside Assembly of God Church.
She leaves behind her loving husband, Gary L. Tyson of Turlock; two sons, Matthew Parrott and Joshua Parrott; her brother, Donald Livingston; and her mother, Florence Livingston. She was preceded in death by father Harold C. Livingston and brother Duane Livingston.
Remembrances may be sent to Twelve Steps To Freedom, account #006122028, at any branch of Bank Of The West.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /Nov. 19, 2008
Born Aug. 23, 1950 in Modesto, Janel grew up on a farm in Ceres where her family raised almonds and boysenberries. In 1968 she graduated from Ceres High School where she was a yell leader and a cheerleader. Mrs. Tyson was extremely active in the drug and alcohol rehabilitation community. In 1989 she moved back to San Francisco to earn her credentials as a Chemical Dependency Specialist from JFK University in Berkeley. Janel began her career at The Salvation Army's (ARC) Adult Rehabilitation Center. She then moved back to Modesto working at First-Step of Stanislaus County. In the early 1990s Janel was an instrumental driving force in opening Laura's House, the first women's sober living program in Modesto. She also served as the facility's program director. In 1999 Janel and her husband decided to move to Kailua and Kaneohe on Oahu, Hawaii where she spent time working with drug- and alcohol-addicted youth. In 2004 Mrs. Tyson opened sober living facilities in Turlock. Until the time of her passing she faithfully continued her God-fueled passion to assist men and women in the fight to get their lives back from the grips of drug and alcohol addiction. Janel was a member of the Northside Assembly of God Church.
She leaves behind her loving husband, Gary L. Tyson of Turlock; two sons, Matthew Parrott and Joshua Parrott; her brother, Donald Livingston; and her mother, Florence Livingston. She was preceded in death by father Harold C. Livingston and brother Duane Livingston.
Remembrances may be sent to Twelve Steps To Freedom, account #006122028, at any branch of Bank Of The West.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /Nov. 19, 2008
