STERLING – James “Tyler” Stone, 58, of Sterling, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at his home.

Tyler was born Nov. 13, 1954, in Sterling, the son of Thomas and Viola (Cisketti) Stone.

Tyler was a 1973 graduate of Newman Catholic High School. He took welding and other classes at Sauk Valley College, and attended other colleges throughout the country, including Texas A&M. He was a career pipe welder by trade, retiring in 2002. He lived and traveled throughout the East Coast, and lived in Kingsville, Texas. Tyler worked for numerous contractors throughout the country, including Caterpillar, John Deere, Fluor Daniel, Halliburton and Newport News Shipbuilding, working on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan. Tyler was a fisherman, horse trainer, and an artist. He made jewelry and furniture, and was best known locally for his pens, that he handcrafted and designed from exotic wood and other material such as deer antlers.