Ty-Ron Phelps

Ty'Ron Anthony L. "Ty'Ronnie" Phelps was a joyful young presence in his Akron neighborhood whose everyday pleasures — riding scooters and dirt bikes, playing cards, and spending time on Xbox Live with friends — brought him close to those who knew him. Born and raised in Akron and a student in Akron Public Schools, Ty'Ronnie was known to family and classmates as a hardworking boy with a positive attitude who tried to do his best.

He loved simple comforts: noodles, sausage and chicken were among his favorite foods, and he turned small moments into fun, like using a 2‑liter pop bottle for an impromptu game. Ty'Ron's enthusiasm for play and his easy friendship drew others to him, and his family remembers him for the laughter and energy he shared at home and in the neighborhood.

Ty'Ron's life was celebrated by those closest to him — parents, grandparents, siblings and many aunts, uncles and cousins — who gathered to honor his memory at a service in Akron. The warmth of those family bonds and the outpouring of community support reflected how many lives he touched in his short years.

Though his passing on July 15, 2018, left a deep ache in the hearts of his loved ones, Ty'Ron's memory endures in the small, personal joys he loved and the kindness he showed to others. He is remembered not for the manner of his death, but for the laughter, playfulness and family devotion that made him uniquely himself.