Thomas H. Lyons, Jr.

Thomas Henry Lyons, Jr., age 85, beloved husband of the late Jean Hayes Lyons, passed away on July 13, 2022, in Stuarts Draft, VA. He was born on March 9, 1937, to the late Thomas Henry and Kathleen Ewing Lyons, the youngest of four siblings. He is survived by his sisters, Jane Bird and Nancy Murphy, and his children, Thomas Lyons III (Sue), Anne Lyons-Johnson (Daniel Johnson), and George Lyons (Cady). He is lovingly remembered by his eight grandchildren: Molly Forester, Virginia Forester, Thomas Lyons, Daniel Lyons, William Lyons, Joseph Lyons, Therese Lyons, and Gabriel Lyons.

Born in Washington D.C., Tom was raised in Falls Church VA. He was a lifelong learner, attending the College of William and Mary, St. Edwards’s University, and receiving his masters alongside his daughter and son from Shenandoah University. Tom and Jean married in 1959 having courted her through dance and enjoyed living in many parts of the United States following his career in metallurgy, computers, and accounting. They spent much of their life laughing and playing pinochle and other games. Tom devoted himself to his family and church, volunteering at St. Francis of Assisi as an usher, eucharistic minister, Knight of Columbus, and member of the Legion of Mary. He composed a prayer, “Prayer from Holy Spirit”, that meant a lot to him.

Tom was an avid carpenter, building beautiful furniture that graced his home and his children’s. Gardening was always important to him, priding himself on growing corn in the clay soil of Texas and coneflowers, roses, and marigolds wherever he lived for his wife. He loved animals and nature, supporting charities like the Arbor Day Foundation and WWF. His living room wall features many pictures of his “fur babies” that he rescued over the years.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Forester, and sister, Susannah Williamson.

A Catholic Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi, Staunton, VA on July 18, 2022 at 10:00 am with a rosary preceding at 9:30 am by the Legion of Mary, with cremains later to be interred at Calvary Cemetery in Johnson City, NY alongside his wife and daughter.