Tyler J. Arnold

On February 24, 2021, Tyler John Arnold, father, brother, son, and artist passed away from cancer at the age of 33. Tyler was born on December 12th, 1987 in Great Bend, Kansas to Patsy Ruth (Chilcott) and Stanley Eugene Arnold.He graduated high school midterm in December of 2005, went on to get his Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, followed by his Master’s in Management from Doane College.Tyler’s first job was at Sonic, where he found employment well before he was old enough to work legally, thanks to a neighborhood connection.His father still attests this was where Tyler discovered most of his bad habits. Tyler agreed. He eventually found a career in graphic design for Educational Service Unit 3, where he redesigned logos and websites for eighteen school districts.Tyler spent much of his life celebrating the arts through the composition of his own music, art, and videography.His first band, Vertigo, started with friends Bryce Bartu, Kevin Fandry, and Jeremy Dobbins, introduced Tyler to the joy of making music.This love would continue throughout his life with projects like Headless Acrobats, a band with a rotating cast of friends and influences, and Parallel Paths, an EP recorded with ex-wife and lifelong partner Katie Shipp (Bohrer-Arnold).Tyler’s music found modest success internationally with its inclusion twice in the Radiophrenia music festival in Glasgow, Scotland.A nationally syndicated public radio program in Australia used Tyler’s ambient music regularly as bumpers on its broadcasts.Never satisfied with one medium of artistic expression, he also experimented with videography and photography under the production name abeautifulnoise. Tyler was preceded in death by his mother Patsy, Grandpa Candy and Grandma Bell (Arnold), Grandpa Bill and Grandma Ruth (Chilcott).He is survived by his father Stan, sister Elle, niece Addie, brother-in-law Cameron, Katie, her husband Aaron, and most importantly his daughter Memphis, for whom all goals were oriented.She was the muse for his passions, the sunlight for which every day began, and purpose for which all achievements were celebrated.Tyler’s artistic spirit rubbed off on Memphis and they collaborated on numerous pieces throughout his life, including album cover art and vocals which Memphis contributed to on a number of Headless Acrobats songs.From the time she was very young, Memphis always looked forward to time spent with her “Papa”.His creativity, intellect, and thoughtfulness nurtured and inspired her, even when he was forcing her to try alligator meat or geeking out on pro wrestling.Their many adventures were always grounded in culture and education, both of which Tyler held paramount - a trait he said he inherited from his mother.The two would frequent local art shows, interesting restaurants, concerts, and take vacations to cultural epicenters (with a splash of men fighting in spandex dropped in).Their relationship was not only one of parentage, but one of shared discovery with their lives enriched equally together. In accordance with Tyler’s wishes, a celebration of his life will be announced in the coming months when the weather is warmer and loved ones are able to convene in good health.Scientific research was always very important to Tyler.In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Donate Life or the SETI institute.