Tyrone Jimerson

The steps of Tyrone Eberle Jimerson were mandated as he entered into the world October 1, 1950, in Denver, Colorado.  Born to his parents, James Eddie Jimerson, of Dallas, Texas; and Irilla Mallard, from Taft, Oklahoma, he was the first born of his mother and third for his father.  Born by a midwife at a little house on Ogden street he was a loved baby. A year later he would be a big brother to his sister, Etta Irene Jimerson who he would torment by taking all the toys away from her. As a young child he loved to play with and build plastic model cars, airplanes, and whatever else.

As he grew up and older, he attended several schools within the Denver Public Schools district and at the age of 10 was blessed with another little sister, LeCleta Joyce Jimerson. He went on to graduate from Manual High School where he worked on the school newspaper, developed a passion for photography, and was a member of the ROTC.

After graduating, he attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins where he majored and received his Bachelors in Sociology.

After college, he returned back home to Denver, where he flourished in developing his own business doing photography, and reengaged himself with automobiles, except this time around, ones actually driven on the streets.  He worked alongside his father most times in the backyards of his home ticking and toiling about underneath hoods and bodies of vehicles. He especially loved rare models.

At the age of thirty, he was set onto a new path of becoming a little ones dad, his niece's to be exact. His little sister, just 19 at the time, was murdered, but she had a 4 year old daughter named Cleora Roxelle Jimerson, who he would take charge of caring for.  What a ride that was for him.  While working day and night at the numerous jobs he held down he would also learn how to father a young little girl.

He never did have any natural children of his own nor did he ever marry.  He was married to his work.  All of it. He loved food and somewhere along the line learned about gourmet style food and began a career as a Sous Chef at the Hilton Inn South where he stayed more than 10 years.  With the demands of a child and requests for his photography work at many events and as a contributer to the Denver Urban Spectrum and other publications, he traded in his chef hat and became a Line Cook at Johnny’s Diner closer to the home he provided for him and his niece. In 1990 his hard work and having a great attorney, Penfield Tate, paid off and he legally adopted his neice, becoming her Dad.

He never lived anywhere else besides Colorado but loved to travel and spend time with his family and friends.  From adopting Cleora, he was blessed with six grandchildren; TaShae Denai Jimerson, 31, Cydni LaShai Richardson, 27, Levi DeWayne Watson, 26, Semaj Edward Jimerson-Brown, 17, Joyce Djamyah Saounera, 10 and Jeremyah Djibril Saounera, 10. He also leaves behind two great-grandsons, Jaelen Xyaire Dale Robertson, 10 and DeWayne LaMarr Watson, still in the womb.

Tyrone was preceeded in death by both his parents and a half brother Charles Eddie Greene and leaves neices Felicia and Alon and nephew, Frankie Greene along with their offspring.

Tyrone leaves behind a host of cousins and other family members who will miss his countenance, love, and passion for photography, people, education, and life.  He also leaves behind a plethora of friends he made throughout his years as a college student, bouncer at Pierre’s Supper and other clubs, being the photographer he was, catching many special moments on film, and just by being the MAN he was.

May you rest in POWER and God’s arms Tyrone!! You are and still will be on “This Side of the Dirt”!!