Obituaries
James Richard "Dickie" Lyons
Date of Death or Service Oct 20, 2023
Arrangements for Mr. Lyons will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023. Visitation will be from 4:00pm-6:00pm followed by a Celebration of Life at 6:00pm from the Chapel of Taylor Funeral Home. The family requests that all who are interested to wear UT orange or casual clothing in honor of Dickie. To view his service Friday at 6 PM, click HERE.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Dickie by considering The Independence Fund (for disabled Veterans) or the Pride of the Southland Marching Band at the University of Tennessee.
Mr. James Richard Lyons, 81 of Burns, passed peacefully in his home on October 4, 2023 surrounded by family after a short illness.
Mr. Lyons, known by all as “Dickie”, was born December 18, 1941 in Dickson, Tennessee to Emmett and Achsa Lyons. He grew to be a standout athlete having played for the Dickson High School Varsity Dragons for 5 years at Center, Full Back and defensive line positions. He was selected to the All-Midstate Squad and earned a Most Valuable Player award his junior year; he served as Co-Captain of the 1959 team with the late Billy Hudson his senior year and earned a Departmental Award for Football although he was injured for a third of the season. He also played basketball for the Dragons his sophomore and junior years.
He graduated from Dickson High School in 1960 and attended Austin Peay State University where he earned a degree in Education and became a Physical Education teacher for the Dickson County Board of Education. He later earned his Masters in Education. In addition to teaching for over 40 years, Dickie transported children on bus routes 19 and 32, and his positive impact on the youth of Dickson County will be forever etched into many lives.
Mr. Lyons will always be remembered as a supportive friend to many in our community including his mother, friends, and the late Mr. William Orgain. Dickie supported the Dickson County Cougar Football team, the Special Olympics, Ducks Unlimited, many Veterans causes, the World Wildlife Fund, and many other charities. His giving heart has served as a reminder to us all to be advantageous and charitable to others.
Most know of Dickie as an avid fan of the University of Tennessee football, basketball, and Pride of the Southland Marching Band. He was a devoted outdoorsman and for many years enjoyed traveling, hunting deer, turkey, and duck, riding four-wheelers, fishing, swimming, and kayaking with his many close friends and family.
Dickie leaves behind many close friends, some who have known him since childhood, and consider him to be a great storyteller and ardent companion; he will be memorialized as a well-respected, dependable leader of our community and a true American patriot.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Donna, step-daughter Rebecca (Cary) Donegan, two grandchildren Marc and Sarah, and grand-dog Remi who are blessed beyond measure to have had him in their lives.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Dickie by considering The Independence Fund (for disabled Veterans) or the Pride of the Southland Marching Band at the University of Tennessee.
Mr. James Richard Lyons, 81 of Burns, passed peacefully in his home on October 4, 2023 surrounded by family after a short illness.
Mr. Lyons, known by all as “Dickie”, was born December 18, 1941 in Dickson, Tennessee to Emmett and Achsa Lyons. He grew to be a standout athlete having played for the Dickson High School Varsity Dragons for 5 years at Center, Full Back and defensive line positions. He was selected to the All-Midstate Squad and earned a Most Valuable Player award his junior year; he served as Co-Captain of the 1959 team with the late Billy Hudson his senior year and earned a Departmental Award for Football although he was injured for a third of the season. He also played basketball for the Dragons his sophomore and junior years.
He graduated from Dickson High School in 1960 and attended Austin Peay State University where he earned a degree in Education and became a Physical Education teacher for the Dickson County Board of Education. He later earned his Masters in Education. In addition to teaching for over 40 years, Dickie transported children on bus routes 19 and 32, and his positive impact on the youth of Dickson County will be forever etched into many lives.
Mr. Lyons will always be remembered as a supportive friend to many in our community including his mother, friends, and the late Mr. William Orgain. Dickie supported the Dickson County Cougar Football team, the Special Olympics, Ducks Unlimited, many Veterans causes, the World Wildlife Fund, and many other charities. His giving heart has served as a reminder to us all to be advantageous and charitable to others.
Most know of Dickie as an avid fan of the University of Tennessee football, basketball, and Pride of the Southland Marching Band. He was a devoted outdoorsman and for many years enjoyed traveling, hunting deer, turkey, and duck, riding four-wheelers, fishing, swimming, and kayaking with his many close friends and family.
Dickie leaves behind many close friends, some who have known him since childhood, and consider him to be a great storyteller and ardent companion; he will be memorialized as a well-respected, dependable leader of our community and a true American patriot.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Donna, step-daughter Rebecca (Cary) Donegan, two grandchildren Marc and Sarah, and grand-dog Remi who are blessed beyond measure to have had him in their lives.
He was preceded in death by his parents Emmett Robert Lyons and Achsa Lois Myatt Lyons, sister Ida Glynn Lyons, brother, Bobby Lyons, and special canine friend, Suzie.
