At age 74, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 6, 2001, at the University of Chicago Hospital.

Dr. Hyles had suffered a serious heart attack on January 30, 2001. He was admitted to Methodist Hospital Southlake Campus, Merrillville, Indiana, on Tuesday.

He was subsequently airlifted to the University of Chicago Hospital at 1:00 am Friday. Dr. Hyles underwent eight hours of open-heart surgery performed by a team of top surgeons and specialists.

In spite of heroic attempts by the medical staff, Dr. Hyles was pronounced dead at 9:43 am.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beverly;

Four children,

  • Becky Smith of Texas,
  • David Hyles of Florida,
  • Linda Murphrey of Texas,
  • Cindy Schaap of Indiana;

11 grandchildren,

  • Trina Beebe,
  • Teresa Horton,
  • Trent Smith,
  • Jamie Hyles, Julie Hyles, Amy Hyles, Bethany Hyles,
  • Melissa Murphrey, Michael Murphrey,
  • Jaclynn Schaap, and Ken Schaap;

4 great-grandchildren; one sister, Earlyne Stephens of Illinois; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Lorene and Hazel, and a namesake grandson, Jack David Hyles.

The viewing for Dr. Hyles will be held in the First Baptist Church auditorium, 523 Sibley Street, Hammond, Indiana, on Friday, February 9, beginning at 10:00 am until 6:30 pm. At 7:00 pm on Friday, there will be a memorial service to be attended by all out-of-town guests and friends, all non-First Baptist Church members, and all Hyles-Anderson College students.

The viewing will resume after the memorial service and will continue throughout the night until 9:30 am Saturday, February 10. There will then be a funeral service at 10:00 am for the First Baptist Church membership, including all First Baptist young people who are college students.

There will be a private graveside service conducted for the family only.

Flowers may be sent to First Baptist Church, 523 Sibley Street, Hammond, Indiana 46320.

Dr. Hyles’ ministry has touched and influenced the lives of over a million people nationwide as well as untold millions worldwide.

Date of Birth: September 25, 1926

Date of Passing: February 6, 2001

Laid to rest at: Memory Lane Cemetery on US 30

Pastor’s Church: First Baptist Church

City: Hammond

State: Indiana

Country: United States

Association: Independent Baptist

Biography:

Jack Frasure Hyles (September 25, 1926 – February 6, 2001) was a leading figure in the Independent Baptist movement. He pastored the First Baptist Church of Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, from 1959 until his death.

Dr. Hyles was born September 25, 1926, in Italy, Texas, to Willis Athey and Coystal Mattie Hyles.   During World War II, Jack Hyles served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division.  Dr. Hyles was a graduate of East Texas Baptist College and attended Southwestern Baptist Seminary.

He pastored five churches:

  • Marris Chapel Baptist Church, Bogata, Texas;
  • Grange Hall Baptist Church, Marshall, Texas;
  • Southside Baptist Church, Henderson, Texas;
  • Miller Road Baptist Church, Garland, Texas;
  • The First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana, which he pastored for 41 years, from August 1959 to present.

He is the author of 49 books and pamphlets.

He founded Hammond Baptist Schools in 1970 and Hyles-Anderson College in 1972.

He was also well-known for being an innovator of the church bus ministry that brought thousands of people each week from surrounding towns to Hammond for services.[1] Jack Hyles built First Baptist up from fewer than a thousand members to a membership of 100,000. In 1993 and again in 1994.

It was reported that 20,000 people attended First Baptist every Sunday, making it the most attended Baptist church in the United States[2][3][4] In 2001, at the time of Hyles death, 20,000 people were attending church services and Sunday school each week.

Thousands laud Dr. Hyles as the one who influenced them to “Go Soulwinning”. No pastor was more loved and more hated for his stands on the Bible and the essentialness of the Local Church.