Myra Alice Prestidge Tinsley, 82, passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024, in Claiborne Parish, LA. A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 10:00am at the Homer Church of Christ in Homer, LA. Myra’s wish was to donate her body to science so that medical students and others could benefit from learning, so there will not be interment.
Myra was born on July 16, 1941, to G.C. and Eunice Prestidge in Claiborne Parish, LA. Myra was the second oldest of five children. She attended high school in Haynesville, LA and graduated in 1959. After high school, she attended Southern Arkansas University and married her high school sweetheart, Barry, on September 1, 1962. In 1963, she and Barry moved to Grants, New Mexico where she continued to study and graduated from college in 1967. Myra and Barry lived in Grants, New Mexico for many years and loved the beautiful mountains and people there. Myra was active in the Grants Church of Christ, volunteering in many different capacities but mostly in the baby nursery on Sunday mornings, allowing mothers to enjoy the sermon without having to worry about their babies. Myra was a prayer warrior and had a servant heart that was unmatched.
Some of Myra’s favorite things to do were to read books, spend time with her friends and family and to serve others. She was an avid fan of all high school sports supporting Barry as a head football coach and in his role as Grants High School Athletic Director and then Principal. Myra was also a huge supporter of both of her sons’ activities all through school and after. She enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys on Sundays and would yell louder than Barry on some occasions. Myra worked at Grants High School for many years teaching typing, shorthand, English and Business classes. Her legacy is unmatched when it comes to the impact that she had on many students’ lives. To this day, professionals all over the country are using typing/keyboarding skills taught by Myra Tinsley at Grants High School.
Those left to cherish her memory are her beloved husband of nearly 62 years, Barry D. Tinsley; her son Brian and his wife Kristin Tinsley of Katy, Texas and her son Matt and his wife Carla Tinsley of Lubbock, Texas; her grandsons, Patrick Tinsley of Lubbock, Texas, Connor and his wife Sarah Tinsley of Texas City, Texas and Ethan Tinsley of Lubbock, Texas; her granddaughters, Rileigh Tinsley of Kyle, Texas and Tori Tinsley of Lubbock, Texas; her great grandson, John Cruz Tinsley of Texas City, Texas; her siblings Billy Prestidge and his wife Sis of Walker, Louisiana, David Prestidge and his wife Miriam of Haynesville, Louisiana, Becky (Prestidge) Johnson and her husband Byron of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana; her sister in law, Phyllis Bledsoe and her husband Ken of Fort Collins, Colorado and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.
Myra was preceded in death by her parents, G.C. and Eunice Prestidge, and her youngest brother, Charles Ray Prestidge. Myra and Barry are/were supporters of many different charitable organizations. In lieu of flowers, donations to any of the following in her memory would be appreciated: 1. Southern Christian Children’s Home, in Morrilton, AR (100 W. Harding Street, Morrilton, AR 72110) 2. St. Jude’s (https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html)