Twelve-year-old Andrew Tyler's casket was at the front of the church Saturday, but his family wasn't calling this a funeral. It was a victory celebration.

More than 150 people came to Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau to honor Andrew's life. It had been 16 months since Andrew, a member of the Jackson Barracuda swim team, had jumped into the water and suffered cardiac arrest from a condition known as Long QT Syndrome, an electrical disorder of the heart.

He suffered brain damage from the incident, which contributed to his death Oct. 27.

Born Jan. 21, 1992, Andrew was the son of Ed and Becky Tyler and brother of Hannah.

The church vestibule displayed toys, trophies, family photos and swim team memorabilia of Andrew's. Tables and pews toward the back of the church sanctuary were covered with objects that defined the boy's personality and letters Andrew had written to his immediate family and received from them. Andrew's letter to President Bush, published in 2000 in the Southeast Missourian Jr., stated that he'd vote for Bush "because he is a godly man." It was propped up, yellowed and tattered, among worksheets indicating his academic progression and ideas conveying his spiritual development in letters to family.

Along with the photographs, they helped visitors learn about or revisit the identity of a lively boy enjoying the peak of his childhood.

A swimming accident was the least likely accident anyone expected for Andrew, his grandfather had commented early on, "because he can swim as good as he walks."

"We thank the community for its support during the last 16 months," said his mother, Becky, to those at the church Saturday. Expressions of caring from the community had taken the form of food, phone calls, fund raisers, notes and even the swim team wearing red ankle bands. Whispered words in respectful voices carried throughout the church, intermittently disrupted by small sobs and polite sniffling.

Still shots and serious and silly video clips of treasured family times made it clear that the victory celebration was not intended to discourage laughter -- especially when Andrew demonstrated his showmanship in singing video duets with his mother.

Serious and proud moments were openly shared with those in attendance: Andrew's baptism, recitations of Bible books and rhymes that helped him remember the number of days in a month. They demonstrated how the boy who identified with Woody from Disney's "Toy Story" traded his "cowboy years," as his parents called them, for "The Lord of the Rings."

In a reversal of roles, Becky Tyler comforted and greeted visitors prior to the formal service.

While Andrew made slow progress at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis and was later transferred to his home, many prayed for him. The Internet helped expand the circle of prayers to as far away as Israel.

The ending segment of Saturday's service included departing words from Andrew's family. His sister, Hannah, promised to sleep with the toys Andrew had given her. Earlier she had said, "We rode bikes together. Andrew aired up my tires. When I fell, he carried me into the bathroom so my mom could bandage me. He let me play cars and Army men and even played Barbies. But he'd only be the boy. He was nice to me. Andrew was the best brother."

Ed Tyler described his son as an inspiration, an individual to be proud of, one who was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Children, all about Andrew's age, carried "Lord of the Rings" plastic swords while others sobbed as they departed from the church.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133