She was born to Ella B. Foster and Leonard Leigh on August 16, 1936 in Kansas City MO. She transitioned from this life on April 5, 2021 at her home.

Her father passed away when she was only 2 and her mother later married George Lee Guyton. To this union her mother had her two younger sisters, Stella and Mary.

She was preceded in death by: her father; mother; stepfather; daughters, Janell Renee Tyson, and Shirley Tyson Tolbert; and both husbands, Lewis Charles Tyson, and Eddie J Strickland.

As a child she moved to Hermondale, Mo and attended church at Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church.  She spent most of her childhood between Hermondale, MO and Ripley MS. She went to High School in Ripley MS graduating in 1954. After graduation she moved back to her birthplace, Kansas City.

Delores married Lewis Charles Tyson and to their union four children were born. With this union she also gained one son and two daughters.

Later in life she married Eddie J. Strickland. To this union she gained three daughters & two sons.

Delores worked for Macys, Downtown and the Landing. Later she went to work at Dillard’s Bannister Mall until she retired in 1999 after more than 25 years combined sales work.  

She joined Fellowship Baptist Church, KC MO in 1972. She was a proud member of the Adult Choir, Women’s Missionary, Bible Study, and Adult Sunday School. She loved the Lord first, her family and her church family. Delores enjoyed sending cards to her family and friends and loved helping people however she could.

She loved to cook, especially her 7-Up pound cakes.

She was soft spoken and always willing to listen when you needed an ear to hear.  And in the past two years she loved watching the Chiefs play football.

She leaves behind, daughters, Tina Tyson, and Lelia Tyson of KCMO; two sisters, Stella Brooks of St. Louis, MO., and Mary Graham of Ripley, MS.; four stepdaughters, Darlene McGruder, Marsha Austin (George), Melicent McCain, of KCMO, and Patricia Tyson (San Francisco); three steps-sons, Charles Lewis Tyson (TC) of Vivian, LA., Eddie J Strickland, Jr, (Val), and Andray Strickland of KCMO; three brothers-in-law, Walter Tyson, Gene Tyson, and Forest Tyson; one sister-in-law, Centennial Tyson; grandchildren, Clifford James Tolbert Sr. (Cailin), and Tyson Mitchell; and a great-grandson (who was usually by her side) Clifford James Tolbert Jr, (JJ); as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends who will greatly miss her.

Due to COVID-19, please respect social distancing and face covering guidelines. Temperature checks will be enforced.