Jerry was born on June 9, 1937, in Worland, Wyoming, the son of Clyde Wesley Lyon and Clara Edna Feagans Lyon. The son of an Army Major, he lived in ten different states by the age of ten, settling in Oklahoma where he attended Lawton High School and played clarinet in the band where he met the love of his life Peggy Ann Wickman.
Graduating two years ahead of Peggy, Jerry served two years in the US Army before attending the University of Houston in Texas with Peggy where he earned his BA in Music Education. After graduation he taught as a band director and learned to fly as a hobby while teaching. In 1966, he joined Eastern Airlines and began his twenty-year career as a commercial airline pilot.
After marrying in the summer of 1959, Jerry and Peggy’s family grew as Jeffry, Leslie, Sidney, and Gregory were born in Texas, Georgia, and Florida. The childrearing days were filled with campouts, fishing and boating trips, swimming pools, hikes across Philmont, RV trips to National Parks, pass riding family trips on Eastern to museums and historical sites, hilarity, and good time spent with family and friends. Spending several days away on flights, Jerry took on many household duties and repairs when he was home always supporting and assisting his loving wife, making his legendary french toast or carpooling the kids to school. Jerry was dedicated to scouting and served as a Scoutmaster in Stuart, Florida. Jerry’s wit was legendary, and he always had an inspirational word of advice, a smile, and optimistic outlook.
Following retirement Jerry taught flying at San Jacinto Community College and supported his entrepreneurial wife as she started her own financial planning business. Jerry and his wife grew the business over the years and made many cherished friends. Jerry loved nature and planted hundreds of trees in East Texas, including the endangered long leaf pines.
He was polite, patient, and never complained, making him a favorite of all the nurses and doctors who helped him over the years with his heart transplant and kidney disease. He defied the odds and had many additional happy years with his family and friends.
Jerry passed peacefully at his daughter’s lake house in Cumberland, Maine at the side of his beloved wife, Peggy Ann Wickman Lyon and his daughter. He leaves behind his son Jeffry Lyon; his daughter Leslie Lyon Anderson and her partner Jonathan Arey, and his grandson John (Jack) Arey; his son Sidney Milton Lyon and his wife Laura Lyon, her daughter Ciara Dockery, her husband Ben Sayeg, her son Joshua Sheppard Frahlman and his wife Sarah Harris, and his granddaughter Devonne Lyon and grandson Davis Lyon; and his son Gregory Scott Lyon and his wife Sandi Lyon and her daughter Brandie Hamilton and her son Zachary Stokes, and his great granddaughter Maddesyn (Maddy) Stokes.
Cards may be sent to 13 Forest Lane, Cumberland, Maine 04021.
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