God chose to call Earl home, very unexpectedly, on July 25, 2017.   Earl Harvey Tycksen was born on September 28, 1934, the oldest of seven, to Nute and Leona Tycksen, USAFOB. (Upstairs in the attic, at the foot of the bed)!   The family settled in Talent, OR in 1945. After high school, he attended and graduated from George Fox College in 1957. While at Fox he met the love of his life, Annie Longstroth, as they co-directed a play for Homecoming. They were engaged by February of the next year and made plans to marry the following year. However, he was drafted into the military where he served as a noncombatant at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.  He and Annie married on September 26, 1959, in Boise, ID.  It was there he began his ministry as an assistant pastor at Whitney Friends Church.

In his over 40 years as a Friends pastor, Earl served in La Junta and Littleton, CO, Meridian and Nampa, ID, Silverton and Marion, OR and Spokane WA, often while simultaneously working part –time outside the church to support his family.  He always enjoyed the preparation and study involved in putting together a sermon – even faithfully preaching in Morning Worship at Friendsview until recently.  He continued to faithfully preach in Morning Worship at Friendsview until just recently.

It was incredibly evident to see how much Earl valued family.  He and Annie were thrilled when daughter, Lynette was born in La Junta and again when Michael joined them in Jerome, ID.  Earl and Annie were very involved with the sponsorship of six young Vietnamese men in 1975 and still maintain contact with many of them.  Hoa Dong lived with the Tycksens while earning his degree while the others settled elsewhere to begin their American lives.   Earl often blamed these young men for his gray hair and wrinkles, yet they have each enriched their lives beyond measure proving there are no boundaries to love.

In 1999, Earl and Annie moved to Newberg to ‘retire’, eventually making their home at Friendsview Retirement Community.  They have lived and worked there for the past 9+ years.

Earl was involved in many community activities during his lifetime:  positions in Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends, Ministers’ Associations, George Fox University Boards, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, Dairy Days, Meridian Red Cross, coaching and/or playing on baseball and co-ed teams, blood/pheresis donor, Quaker Hill and Twin Rocks Friends camps, Toastmasters, SMART reader, Relay for Life, Bloomsday 10K, as well as many community activities at Friendsview.

Surviving Earl are his beloved wife of 57 years, Annie; daughter Lynette Cortez of Silverton, OR; son Mike (Amy) Tycksen of Richland, WA; and Hoa (Lori Nguyen) Dong of Renton, WA, nine grandchildren; Gabe (Annie) Cortez and son Madden, Leah Cortez, and Josiah Cortez; Andrew Tycksen, Jack Tycksen, and Luke Tycksen; Elizabeth (Kevin) Nguyen, Emily Dong, and Jonathan Dong.

Earl is also survived by five brothers and one sister: Lyio, Frank (Shirley), Fred, Ken (Rosa), and Les Tycksen and Inez (Reg) Dooney; sister-in-law Veva (Jim) Jencks, brothers-in-law Leon (Ida) Longstroth, Bruce (Sharon) Longstroth and many nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by many dear friends who will also mourn his passing.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Quaker Hill Camp, 1440 Warren Wagon Rd., McCall, ID 83638 or Friendsview Resident Assistance Fund, 1301 Fulton St., Newberg, OR 97132.