A special boy who poured his heart in everything he did on the football and baseball field to his involvement in his church. Tyler also spent numerous hours working with ESP (Extra Special People) something he loved doing. Tyler was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as the FCCLA. He was a straight “A” student and was also a member of the Madison County Middle School’s baseball and football teams. Those activities and much more were examples of how much this young man love what he did and poured his heart into whatever he did.
Towards the end of the school year, Madison County Middle School retired his baseball jersey number 17 and also his football jersey of number 9. They will never to be worn again by an athlete of these sports at the middle school. This act of gratitude from the school will forever be part of those students and teammates’ memories as the years go by. A “Wall Ball” court is being built and will be dedicated to the memory of Tyler at the Madison County Recreation Department. The list goes on and on and the memories will last forever of this young man who touched so many lives. Students had T-shirts made with the numbers 9 and 17 that also read “In memory of Tyler Fortson Moon.” The lives he touched go well beyond the school, the playing fields, and classmates.
Tyler was very active in his church at Hull Baptist according to his close friend Gordon. Along with his love of playing sports growing up at the recreation department and middle school was his love for time on the lake. “He used to tell me that one of his favorite things to do outside of school was to go the lake and spend time with his dad on the boat” said Gordon. “Tyler was just the kind of person who always brought a smile out of everyone.”
Those people whose lives were touched by this young man overflowed the visitation area of the funeral home. I can remember standing in line with my daughter for two-and-a-half hours. I was touched seeing the support by the number of friends from all ages that were there. He touched many lives with his friendly personality and his passion for his friends. So many that knew him still send him messages via Facebook; “I miss you Tyler,” “You were my bestfriend/brother since kindergarten” and many, many more. These are just a couple of the posts from friends showing their love and thoughts on his page which hosts over one thousand friends.
Another of Tyler’s closet friends, Marycandler Minish said of Tyler, “He loved life and lived everyday to the fullest. Tyler always tried his best in everything he did and made the most of it.”
Shortly after Tyler’s passing, I watched several video posts of Tyler on the football field with the Mustangs. From the short videos posted, I could plainly see the great athletic ability of this young man. A parent/coach of a child that played with Tyler in youth sports described him as a “hard hitting player maker” on the football field. His love and dedication for the game showed in his hard work on the field.
Word of his untimely death even reached other counties and the lives of those who played against him. One Habersham County parent, who had a son that played against Tyler on the baseball field, contacted me shortly after hearing of his accident. She mentioned that even though she didn’t know Tyler personally, both her and her son remembered the example he set on the field. They also expressed their sympathy to family and students of Tyler.
The posts, quotes, thoughts, and a special place in the middle school’s hallway that display his jerseys all speak volumes of what Tyler meant to so many people. Those of us who didn’t know him or those that were so close to him can all be proud of what this young man stood for and accomplished. His memory will forever live in the hearts of those kids that had the honor of calling him friend, brother, son, and even hero. His memory will live on the ball fields from the recreation department to the middle school and even the high school, his next level of play. I am confident that he would have continued to touch many more lives throughout high school years and into the future. Either on the diamond or on the football field — his example of that “All American Kid” would and will still continue in the hearts of all that knew him. “He was very loved by everyone that was around him and he has touched so many of our lives! We all miss and love him very much,” said Minish.
“Fort” was the nickname for those who knew him best. As for me, I call him a blessing from above and now an angel watching from above. Haley Gordon summed it all up in one final quote, “I love and miss you Tyler Fortson Moon!”
