January 17, 2019  

LAWT News Service 

 

Isaac F. McTyeire was born to Isaac and LaVonne McTyeire on November 18, 1938, in Akron, Ohio. He was the younger of two children, with an older sister, Bernadine.

 

The family relocated to Los Angeles when Isaac was nine-years-old. He was baptized that year and developed a firm belief in God.  He attended Main Street Elementary School and John Adams Junior High School. It was there that he earned the life-long nickname “Shank” from his basketball-playing friends because of his tall, lanky frame. Following graduation from Manuel Arts High School, he earned a degree in Police Science from Los Angeles City College.

 

He served in the United States Army during the VietNam Crisis. After receiving an honorable discharge from military service, Isaac worked for Pacific Bell.

 

In 1976, Isaac formed his own attorney services company, specializing in process serving for over 30 years prior to retirement.

 

Bored with retirement, he began working in Distribution Services for the Los Angeles Watts Times newspaper, which was owned by his cousins, Charles and Beverly Cook, and their daughter Melanie (Cook) Polk. He continued in that capacity after the newspaper was sold to owners of the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper.

 

Isaac loved jazz music, especially Miles Davis. He also enjoyed dancing to Latin rhythms, and was known for winning Cha Cha contests with his unique style of moves. He possessed a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed teasing.

 

When Isaac volunteered along with two other family members to take a genetic ancestry DNA test, he and the family took great pride when he received his certificate stating that they are descendants of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Africa. 

 

Isaac F. McTyeire transitioned peacefully in his sleep on December 6, 2018. He is survived by his sister, Bernadine Robinson; nephew, Gregory Cooks; niece, Renee Cooks; a great nephew, a great niece, two great-great nieces and one great-great nephew; and a host of relatives and friends to love and cherish his memory.  He will be deeply missed.

Category: Community