View above the high mountains of Ecuador.Portrait of Jim Tye. IMB Photo
James Edward Tye, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Ecuador, died May 16, 2025. He was 89.
Jim was born Feb. 21, 1936, in Jones, Oklahoma, to the late Robert Cook Tye and Sylvia Leticia Goodner Tye. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and received the Bachelor of Music from Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma, and the Master of Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
While seeking missionary appointment he recalled, “During a revival at the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in 1952, I made a public dedication of my life to vocational Christian service. At the time I felt strongly that the Lord wanted me in church music. I also felt a strong inclination toward foreign missionary service. I wrote to the Foreign Mission Board and told them of my decision and my desire to serve as a foreign missionary. They told me that they were not appointing missionaries in the field of music but urged me to continue my preparation.”
During high school, he served as music director for two churches. After high school, he worked as a stock clerk at Western Bank and Office Supply Company until January 1955 when he was called to active duty in the Air National Guard. He married Shirley Ann Bynum on Dec. 14, 1956. After college, he began seminary to prepare for music ministry. Following seminary, he served as minister of music and education in several churches.
While seeking appointment he wrote, “In retrospect I can see that the Lord has been preparing me for missionary service in many different ways. Even the delays, which became quite frustrating at times, I can now see as an important part of my preparation. As a result of the additional experience and training gained during these years of preparation for appointment, I believe I will be better able to accomplish the tasks I will have as a missionary.”
In 1970, the International Mission Board appointed Jim and Shirley missionaries to Ecuador.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Shirley Tye; daughter Jeana Dixon (Clark) of St. Charles, Missouri; and sons Mark Tye (Shirley) of Kingwood, Texas, Scott Tye (Kristi) of Allen, Texas, and Tim Tye (Kristi) of Allen, Texas; 12 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held May 23 at Allen Heights Baptist Church in Allen, Texas.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Lottie Moon Offering, IMB, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230, or online at Generosity Resource Center – IMB Generosity.
Read an obituary here.
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