Morris T Lyons

Morris was born August 23, 1928 the sixth of seven children to Hershel and Bessie Lyons. The family lived on a small farm in southwest Kentucky and the children learned early to share the work. Their father died at an early age so Morris received only a fifth-grade education as his help was needed on farm. His mother remarried giving him a step-father he called “Happy Jack” although his name was Willy Elamon. In addition to his parents and step-father four of Morris' siblings preceded him in death; brother Herman, and sisters Mae, Zula and Ruth. Older brother Clarence (CJ) lives in California and younger brother William (Bill) is a Dayton resident.

Morris was only 15 when his sister Mae's husband Steve got him a job at a Chicago bakery by convincing the owner “he was old enough.” Later in Dayton, Morris worked at NCR, Joyce Cridland Company, and Laughter Corporation, from which he retired in 1991.

Morris surprised his family and friends by marrying a divorcee (Delphine) with three young daughters (Betty, Mary, Carolyn Whitescarver) then David was born in 1954. David's childhood friend Ernie also looked to Morris as a second father. The family lived in sister Ruth's Xenia Avenue home while she and her husband Dale were in Kansas during his Army enlistment. They bought their own home on Haynes Street in 1955 and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary there before her death in 2003.

After buying their home they began to buy neighboring homes as they became available beginning their private rental business. Morris joked that he wanted to control the neighborhood. At one point they owned 12 properties, but their generosity limited their profit, although it did help Morris improve his handyman skills. They were known for their open-house policy, often hosting family who came seeking a better life.

With the passing years, each of his four children took jobs and married, providing him with eight grandchildren: Amy, Randy, Greg, Leslie, Matthew, Brian, Walter and Aaron; eleven great grandchildren: Jacob, Cassandra, Amanda, Christopher, Kyle, Nicholas, Shelby, Dalton, Kylie, Aaron Junior (AJ) and Landon; and three great, great grandchildren: Kalen, Marcus Randall and Conlee.