JOAN SWAIN TYLER

July 8, 1940 - Dec. 31, 2020

Joan Swain Tyler passed away in El Centro on December 31, 2020. An Imperial Valley resident since 1966, Joan was born in Los Angeles to Robert and Doris Mundhenk.

At an early age her family moved to Escondido where Joan spent her childhood years and graduated from high school. Upon graduating from Woodbury College in Los Angeles in 1960 Joan began her 45 year career in accounting. In 1966 she married her first husband, Curt Swain, and moved to El Centro. Shortly thereafter, Joan was hired by the Foss, Macklin, and King accounting firm and she became the first woman CPA in Imperial county. Joan remained the only female CPA in the county for the next ten years. In 1977 Joan opened her own CPA practice which later became Swain and Kennerson from which she retired in 2005.

Joan’s Christianity guided her and influenced most of her decisions in life. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in El Centro since 1966. Community service was also important to Joan. Her involvement included PEO, the United Way, the Soroptimist club, Junior Women’s 10,000 club, the McCabe School site council, the Professional Women’s Network of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, Central Valley Medical Foundation, and she was a supporter of the Spartan Athletic Club. In 2014 Joan was honored for her philanthropic contributions to Imperial Valley as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Imperial County Community Foundation.

In 1995 Joan married Jack Tyler and together they enjoyed twenty five years of marriage. During her retirement Joan enjoyed time with her family, her book club, her women’s groups, and travel with Jack. They traveled to many places together including China, several countries in Europe, Russia, and an African photo safari.

Joan is survived by her husband Jack Tyler; her son Chris Swain (Kim) and their children Tate, Avery, and Whitley; stepson Allen Tyler; his sons JT and Nathan; stepson David Tyler (Joan) and their sons Benjamin and Samuel.

A private service and burial will be held Saturday, February 6, 2021 with a celebration of life to follow at a later date. The private service will be available for viewing on Facebook.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Women-Haven or a charity of your choice supporting women.