Tyquann Anthony "Ty" Gant

Tyquann Anthony “Ty” Gant, 38, of Lancaster, passed away unexpectedly on March 22, 2026. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of Janine Puryear (Steven Simms) and Ronald Gant.

Ty was a 2005 graduate of Penn Manor High School and obtained an associate’s degree from Eastern University. Ty was a true light in his community. He was a real estate agent at Keller Williams, founder of his clothing line “Be Still”, and youth mentor and co-director alongside of Mentor Barry Kornhauser for MUtheatre. He worked at The Mix at Arbor Place, creator of the We Rock the Mic program. Barry Kornhouser was the greatest mentor to Ty and helped shape him into the artist he was. Ty was passionate about guiding the youth as he taught spoken word poetry at local school districts. He had a deep relationship with the Lord, was charismatic and kind, and had the most contagious laugh and smile. He will be deeply missed by all.

In addition to his parents, Ty is survived by his 3 children: Jayzen Anthony Gant, Carter Anthony Gant, and Milan Sanaa Gant; 4 siblings: Kiyanna Gant, Shantee Reitzel, Ronald Shank, and Kieron Gant; niece Kamiah McFadden, close cousins: Kassidy, Leah, Lulu, Keisha, Destin, Jessie, Heather, Kearon, Sultahn, Bryson, Buddy, Bobo, Deandre, and Tony; the mother of his children, Ivelis Montanez, and beloved cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Marion Puryear and Harold Burton, Pappy Julius Monroe, Ronald A. Boynes, Rosella Gant, and great-grandparents Clair and Edward Wright, and Delores “Miss Midge” Stewart.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 11 AM at Bright Side Baptist Church, 515 Hershey Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603. The family will receive guests beginning at 9 AM. Interment will follow at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Ty’s children and their future expenses.

A special remembrance from mentor Barry Kornhouser:
"Ty started working in the Fulton Youtheatre when he was in 7th or 8th grade, and stayed on as a leader through the 2020s after the program had moved on to the Ware Center for the Arts as the M-Uth Theater in 2013. That this program has received many honors, including awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and by the President’s Committee on the Arts & Humanities in a 2008 White House ceremony, was in no small measure due to the meaningful contributions Ty made to the program both as a hugely talented ensemble member and later as a beloved mentor and director. From the beginning, Ty was integral to the program in many ways, not only as a creator and performing artist, but also as a role-model, inspiration, and source of support to his peers and later his charges. He helmed the project himself for a number of years, first co-directing with me and then on his own, designing the ensemble’s logo, welcoming his own son Jayzen into the program, while guiding and inspiring many other young people in the group, including those with sensory, cognitive, and/or physical disabilities along with those living with various serious life challenges. In 2017, he created and directed The Song Of Freedom, an original M-Uth Theater play about the Civil Rights Movement. Ty was one of the select local individuals highlighted in the inaugural volume of FIG STORIES in 2016, featuring profiles of "Lancaster County's most influential leaders, bold thinkers, and agents of change." That's Ty alright! He served as a Program Associate at the Mix, creating the “We Rock The Mic” spoken word program, even taking five young people to compete in the 2015 Brave New Voices program held in Atlanta, the largest youth spoken word poetry festival in the world. Throughout the years, Ty could be found on the Ware Center stage and many other venues performing beautiful heartfelt original spoken-word pieces. As recently as December 21, 2025, he was the featured performer of the Ware’s First Friday “We The People” series, presenting the powerful and moving llitƧ ɘ𐐒: A Mosaic Man’s Journey, touching the hearts of every member of the audience."