A Passion for Airplanes, Engines, and...People

If you look up "people-person" in a dictionary, you may find a picture of my Dad. He cared for everyone he met regardless of who they were or where they might be from in the world. He treated everyone like a long, lost friend and because of that, Tyre had many friends. He also enjoyed being around and flying in airplanes. Even more so than flying in airplanes, he enjoyed the engines that powered them. I think Dad was more interested in the airplane engines than the airplanes themselves but that is another story. Ken Jordan, a dear friend to me, my Dad and now our entire family, is also a "people-person". Coincidently, he is a pilot who owns a few airplanes. To Dad, Ken's friendship was truly a "match made in Heaven"! Ken shared some recollections of Tyre with those who attended Dad's funeral last week and he graciously emailed those memories to me for all to enjoy:

"My profession at the time of my retirement in 2002 was a firefighter on the Lexington (Ky) Fire Dept. I first heard J. Tyre Denney one Sunday morning in 1994 on the kitchen radio in my Frankfort, Ky home when I returned from the fire station. What a deep southern voice this man had and the ability to capture my attention. He spoke softly and with much conviction about the Lord. I was between churches at the time, so I would listen to him. He didn't speak down to me, as some preachers have in the past. He spoke simply and to the point and always included himself when he would talk about human failings. I noticed that he would make reference to airplanes in his messages as well. Who is this preacher that shares a common interest in airplanes with me? The Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to preform! I have been flying as a private pilot since 1982. I bought and restored a 1946 plane and had been flying it since 1991. Three years later, Brother D comes into my life on the radio. I started attending North Benson Baptist Church in 1993. The preacher was young and from North Carolina. He and his family eventually returned to N.C. The church was looking for a new minister...enter- J. Tyre Denney!! This is the first time I had met Brother D. It was a meeting that would give me a long time friend- not just a minister. Brother D and I shared another interest- singing the old Gospel Hymns. I never met anyone who had the gift to sing so many songs from memory. I always need a book or the words a least. Brother D had a wonderful baritone voice!! That's something else we had in common. The same voice range. We would sing in the church choir side by side in the bass section. Another thing I enjoyed was how he would reference songs in his messages. I have always thought hymns were mini-messages from God. I would sing specials from time to time before Brother D's message. One of these songs was "My God and I". Brother D would always talk about his "sweet-heart, Betty" and throw up his fingers to name his children- all those "J's". I see why he did that. He was such a loving husband and father that he did not want to leave anyone out! Several years ago, Brother D asked me to ride with him to visit a deacon's mother in a nursing home west of Indianapolis, Ind. On the return trip we were talking about songs and he asked me to sing "My God and I" at his passing. He said this song is how he felt about his Lord. I said I would be honored to do this song for him. We shared many short flying trips together. Some of my pilot friends had the big bi-planes with open cockpits and with the big round engines. He enjoyed several rides with the leather helmet and goggles. He loved the sound and smell of the big round engine. In his early days, he had been a round engine mechanic for Delta Air Lines. Brother D was an encourager to all. He helped me through some difficult times in my life. Brother D is my TRUE FRIEND. How many people are blessed with a true friend? My true friend will not leave me--he abides in my memory......."