Joe Joe M. Lyons

Joe M. Lyons, age 81 of Fort Smith, born to his deceased parents Jess Lyons and Lola (Purvis) Lyons on August 8, 1931. He passed away Saturday, November 24, 2012. He is also predeceased by his sisters Iona Mendenhall, Ramona Larue and Easter Infant, brothers Bob, Bill, Kenneth, and Jimmy.

His grandfather made the Cherokee Strip Run, opening the State of Oklahoma. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1949 served in the occupation forces of Germany during the Korean War, was Honorably Discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 and served enough time to retire as a Chief Petty Officer. During his tenure in the Navy, Joe attended several Jr. Colleges. He was actively involved in the Boy Scouts of American as a neighbor and Commissioner. After leaving the Navy he worked for ITT Gilfillan as a senior field engineer assisting in writing the curriculum package and teaching the Marines their Three Coordinate Radar System. Joe was later picked up by Civil Service in China Lake, California where he worked in many areas, including computer programming of an automatic test station for missile components. He also wrote the curriculum package for a component of the A4 Aircraft. He was then transferred from Department of Defense to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration serving in Oklahoma City and Albuquerque, New Mexico before being transferred to Fort Smith, AR in 1986. During his time in Fort Smith he served on the Sister City Commission for 9 years and was involved in volunteering as an AARP Tax Preparer and put in several thousand hours of work at St. Edwards. Joe was a faithful Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also a Lifetime member of the Western Arkansas Retired Military Association and the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars.

Rosary will be said 7:00 PM Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at Christ the King Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at Christ the King Catholic Church. Inurnment of ashes will be 10:00 AM Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Fort Smith National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Fentress Mortuary of Fort Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, June of the home; one daughter, Jennifer Oberste and her husband Bill of Fort Smith; three sons, Joseph Lyons and his wife Brenda of Albuquerque, NM, Jerome Lyons of Littlefield, TX, and Jeffrey Lyons and his wife Nadine of Atoka, TN. He is also survived by four grandchildren; Kyle Ritchie and his wife Tiffany of Fort Smith, Stephanie Lyons of South Bend, IN, Jeremy Lyons of Atoka, TN and Joshua Lyons of Albuquerque, NM.

Pallbearers will be Kyle Ritchie, Jeremy Lyons, John Etzkorn, Jim Kiefer, Ray Kiefer, and Don Furstenberg.

Memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of Sebastian County P.O. Box 10953 Fort Smith, AR 72917 or the Charity of one’s choice.