Tyrell was born on April 21, 1985 in Williams Lake, BC to a single-mom and with an older brother, Matt. He came into the world with gusto and that never changed. From an early age, Tyrell, although very independent, made it clear that he was his Kye7e’s (Grandmother’s) boy. Throughout his life, he spent every chance he got with his Kye7e. This summer she gave him his Secwepemc name: Tsekulecw te Tsicwtsecw (Sunrise Hawk) because he was a “wise, courageous and strong protector” of his family.

Tyrell’s favorite thing to do as a little boy was play “rodeo” and ride horseback with his brothers and mom. Almost as soon as he could talk he made it clear that when he grew up he was going to be a bull rider.

After four years in Williams Lake, Ty and his family resided in UBC and Victoria for two years each before settling in Kamloops. School was challenging for Ty because he was restless and didn’t like taking direction. He preferred to have fun.

As a boy, Tyrell was carded as a goalie in the Kamloops AAA Minor Hockey League. Then in his teens, his interest shifted to snow boarding and he was on the black diamonds and in the trees every chance he got. In the summer, before his mom agreed to let him and his brother “rodeo,” he played competitive soccer until discovering lacrosse.

After Ty’s mom relented, Ty and his brother went to a steer riding school and competed in rodeos throughout BC. Tyrell quit lacrosse in grade ten to join the BC High School Rodeo Association. Competing in bull riding was his passion. In fact, the only time he wasn’t competing was when he was injured.

Ty always had fun and surrounded himself with like-minded, fun loving dare devil friends and family. Because of his love of extreme sports and the adrenalin rush that accompanied it, he suffered several major head injuries, the first when he was seventeen years old. Some of his side effects included severe headaches, frustration and the loss of the ability to predict the affects of his impulsive choices.

After spending most of his adult years working in the oil fields, a few years ago Ty decided that he needed to be more responsible and change his lifestyle. He reached out to his childhood bull riding mentor and spent time with him regrouping and refocusing. It was then that he joined a research group that’s purpose was to study the affects on his brain from his many concussions. He hoped that he would learn how to control his impulsive behavior. However, he became overwhelmed with the many challenges of recovery and, after seeking guidance from his counselor, stepped away from this important research until he could put more energy into it.

Once he began to feel better, Tyrell met Jess and reconnected with his adorable children, Aliannah (8) and Wyatt (6). During his period of healing Tyrell accepted that he was getting too old to ride bulls. He and Jess began to build a string of bucking bulls and he could be found horseback riding in the hills, helping out at Jess’ barrel races, checking on his cattle herd, or playing golf when he wasn’t working.

Ty died early on January 8, 2021 in the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. He was the happiest his friends and family had seen him. He died surrounded by his three brothers, Matt, Colton and Zack, his fiancé, Jess, and his mom, DeDe with his step dad, Allan and “little sister” Montana waiting outside the hospital. Friends and family called to tell him they loved him reminisce and play his favorite music. Ty’s Kye7e and her close friends Face Timed to pray and sing to him in Secwepemc and Tsilhqut’in and an Inuit elder came to pray for him in Inuktatuck.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Tyrell in the fall after the pandemic at Whispering Pines Indian Band. His Celebration will be followed by a Memorial Bull Riding and Barrel Race. All proceeds will go to brain injury research at UBC.

This is how the cowboy rode away…

In memory of Tyrell, please consider making a donation to UBC. Your gift will support important brain injury research at UBC.