Thomas William Lyon set down his many tools for the last time Friday, July 14, 2023 in Stratford Ontario. Tom is lovingly remembered by his wife Ruth (Duncan) of 55 years, daughter Erika and son Geoff and his wife Rebecca. He was very proud of his 4 grandchildren and their achievements: Austin, Collin, Mackenzie and Cameron.
Brother of Bruce – deceased (Sheila); Harvey; Ross (Doreen); and Janet (Fred Anderson – deceased). Brother in law of Alice (Al Watson – deceased); Jim Duncan (Joanne); Cecil Duncan (Josephine – deceased). Fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.
Tom graduated from the Ontario Agriculture College and worked for the Department of Agriculture and Ontario Hydro until he returned to university to become a teacher, working for the Huron County Board of Education. He was a man of many passions: 4H Club, showing cattle, farming, horses, archery, golf and, of course, dogs. Tom’s love of music, art and the outdoors found its way into the classroom during his 25+ years of teaching. Upon retiring he pursued his many interests in music, woodcarving, oil painting, golf and creating the lasting legacy of Weatherrun Weimaraners. (nicknamed Wormrunners by some of Geoff’s friends)
Friends and family are asked to join in celebrating Tom’s life at Brucefield Community United Church, 10 London Road, BRUCEFIELD on Saturday, July 22nd from 1 – 3 PM, following a private family interment at Baird’s Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, Alzheimer Society Huron Perth, or planting a tree through the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority would be appreciated by the family.
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Greg & Kathy O’Reilly
Sincere sympathy Ruth & family on your loss of Tom. Thinking of you at this difficult time.
Greg & Kathy O’Reilly
Marnie Hurst
Dear Ruth and family, I want to say how thankful I am to have known Tom. He was a wonderful person and his passion, love and patience for Weimaraners was admirable. He helped me so much in educating my two Weims and I really appreciated that I could count on him for sound advice, any time. He always had a very calming voice and great laugh and wonderful stories to share. He will not be forgotten. I send you my deepest condolences and wish you all peace during this time.
Jeff & Lisa Brown
Dear Ruth, Geoff, Erika and families,
Deepest condolences. Having had Tom as my Grade 8 Art teacher, I saw him in his teacher mode. He was a genuine teacher. He taught you in a way that you learned and remembered, he cared about your achievement, he expected your attention and got it, and loved making the entire experience fun and uplifting.
Then, as I became close friends with Geoff, I saw Tom in his out-of-class persona. He always made you feel welcome and took a genuine interest in what was going on in your life. I will always remember his deep belly laugh when he found something truly funny. As teenagers, we provided no shortage of nonsense and learning experiences to keep him chuckling. I am truly blessed for having known him.
Wishing you peace & love.
Mac & Ann MacLean
Dear family , we pass on our sincere condolences for the loss in your family , we know you will miss him greatly , as will his many friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this sad time .
Connie & Currie Silcox
Ruth and family,
Our son Jason and his wife Julia became good friends with you and Tom through Weatherun Weimaraners. They always spoke very very highly of the two of you. You both meant a lot to them. We have only met a couple of times but could see why Jason and Julia liked you so.
Take care
Currie and Connie Silcox
Carol Simons
Carol Simons
July21,2023
You will be missed by many Tom. My memories of you and Ruth are many and multiiple. We shared many teaching and social happy times. Ruth I will be thinking of you as you pass through these hard times. Thinking of you. Hugs Carol
Carol and Murray Henderson
Ruth, Erika, Geoff and family
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. Tom was a knowledgeable, kind and fun-loving colleague at CPS. We remember many enjoyable staff parties especially his retirement party featuring a large bonfire. Murray enjoyed working with Tom building the addition onto your house and I, of course, remember meeting his beautiful dogs. We wish you well as you relive the wonderful times with him in your memories. You have our sincere condolences.
Carol and Murray
Mike and Patty Brintnell
Our deepest sympathies to all of you. I had the privilege of working with Tom when he was my VP. What a kind, caring, compassionate, down to earth, common sense and fun guy Tom was! He was super helpful and a great role model for our grade 7&8 Huron County students in 1998 when he accompanied the group as a chaperone on our two week exchange in France! He will be truly missed by all who knew him.
Mike & Patty
Christie (Medd) and Brian Little
Ruth, thinking of you and your family during this difficult time. I have wonderful memories of coming for visits when there was a new batch of pups. Sincere sympathies.
Alice McDowell
Dear Ruth and family;
Please accept my deepest sympathy at the passing of Tom. Tom was such a great, fun loving guy who always had the time to help a friend or guide a colleague. May your precious memories provide comfort at this difficult time.
With sympathy,
Alice McDowell
Marie and Phil Parsons
Ruth, Erika, Geoff and family – we were saddened to hear of Tom’s passing. We have wonderful memories of Tom and our time together in the Huron County Board. Tom had a great sense of humour and truly was a kind gentleman. We loved to swap stories of his Weimaraners and our Great Danes. Tom will certainly be missed.
Dorothy (Bill) Martin
Bill was lucky to have Tom’s friendship.
Even though the old gang did not get together often they had no trouble picking up where they left off .There was lots of story telling (I believe they all agreed that embellishing was allowed and expected),.lots of laughs and lots of music.
It was so much fun to watch the boys together.
Tom will be missed .
He will be remembered fondly by so many.
My sincerest condolences to Ruth and their family.
Joyce Doig
Dear Ruth and Family: You are in my thought and prayers. Wonderful memories will give you such peace in the coming days. Joyce Doig
X-ray Department Seaforth Hospital
We are very sorry to hear about your loss. Thinking about your family during this difficult time.
Seaforth/Clinton Xray Department
xoxo
Drew and Gayle Mitchell
There was a song we sang many times in our get-togethers over 60+ years, the title says it all …
‘He Was A Friend Of Mine’
A wonderful guy who will be deeply missed.
Niall and Rosemary Straw
Deepest sympathy to Ruth and family.
Tom was a caring teacher and vice-principal. Just heard of his passing from Drew.
Erla Dittkrist
So sorry to hear about Tom Thinking of you Ruth your old friend from Dundalk
ERLA DITTKRIST
Carolanne Doig
Ruth and family – so sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. I remember his time as a member at Seaforth Golf Club and he was always eager to have a chat about one thing or another. Last time I saw him we talked about dogs of course. Never knew he was a fellow Aggie – but not surprised. Tom was a great guy.
Marg Allen
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. He was a great colleague at McCurdy P.S. I appreciated his sense of humour, his creative ideas & his kindness. My sincere condolences to his family.
don and gwen roberts
The lyons bunch
Here come the lyons family, pulling in the lane and gosh .. tom found a honey extractor. Early in the spring we (lyons-roberts) set out seven hives of bees under the roberts basswood .. the bees worked their magic and now its harvest time .. but no extractor. Back then bees came in packages of 1000 from georgia to start a hive .. the wroxeter post office called really excited ” come and get your bees, they are all over the room” (the hitch hikers). But now its harvest time. With tom on the machines crank there was sweet fresh honey in profusion , and bee stings for all. (the bees just didn’t give up their efforts willingly). That was a day.. and we had so many more just as good. That tom will be missed is such an understatement.
cathy andreassi
Ruth, Erika, Geoff and Families,
Thinking of You with sympathy and caring. May Your cherished memories and the love of those around You bring comfort today and always, Hugs.
Florence Keillor
Dear Ruth, Erika and Jeff,
Don and I are very sad to hear of Tom’s passing. Tom and I spent many years as teaching colleagues at CPS and HCPS. We became friends as we supported each other when we were the “new kids on the block” in the senior hall at Huron Centennial. We would love to be able to celebrate his life with you on Saturday, but we are now living in Ottawa. Our thoughts will be with you.. Sincere condolences to all the family.
Flo Keillor
Joyce Ribey
Dear Ruth, Erika, Geoff and Family.
I am thinking of you as you adjust to the death of Tom. While it is sad to part with him, he is lovingly sent to his eternal resting place and I am happy for him. I am sure you can be at peace that he is in a better place. Tom taught Brent at Seaforth Public School and I always was honored to converse with him since then. His warm kind presence was lovely and I am so thankful that our paths crossed last summer at the birthday party. It is always a joy to see you Ruth and I look back with fondness at all the time we spent working at Seaforth Hospital. My thoughts and prayer are with you. Hugs.
Rose McMaster
Dear Ruth & family
My sincere condolences on the passing of Tom. Thinking of everyone at this very difficult time. Sending prayers & hugs. May he R.I.P. 🙏
Sandy Harding Balazs
Ruth Erika and Geoff and Families. I wanted to write to tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Tom was such a special person that no words are really enough to express how I feel. He was so much more than a friend to me and my family. He will be missed. Alex and Sandy Balazs
Mary & Jim Barnes
Deepest sympathy Ruth and family. Tom is eternally happy now.
Mary & Jim
Al Taylor
Ruth, Erika, Geoff and family
Deepest sympathy to you in the passing of Tom. He was a great teacher and friend.
He was a man of many talents and shared them in his teaching days at C.P.S.
It was great having Tom as a staff member at the school.
Al Taylor
Joe and Willi Laurie
So sad to hear of Tom’s passing. We enjoyed working with Tom for many years in various teaching locations and know he made a special impact on our kids at Huron Centennial . He always kept his positive attitude in the classroom and staff room – and in the VP’s chair – and he was always very philosopical about the efforts we made with kids and the impact we could make on them. He really loved kids and working with them and was a wonderful advocate for all his students. Our sincerest condolences to Erica, Geoff and Ruth and all the extended family as well. Joe and I have missed his little Scotch visits since Tom and Ruth moved to Stratford.
Jim Chapman
Ruth
and Family;
My deepest sympathy to you all !
I have good memories from our HCBE days.
It’s great to call him a colleague !
Ray and Judy Mills
Dear Ruth and family;
Please accept our deepest sympathy at the passing of Tom. Tom was such a great, fun loving guy. He was so laid back but hard working at the same time. He appeared so quiet but he had a loud presence in whatever he did. He was very patient but he got so much done. He was just Tom. I enjoyed his smile, his kind way and the respect he showed to others. Even though we have not seen Tom for a number of years, he will be missed. You are in our thoughts and prayers Ruth. God bless.
Jim & Azetta Gibbons
Our sincere sympathy to Ruth & Family.
Tom was a soft spoken, gentle man and he will be missed.
Hugs
Jim & Azetta Gibbons
Helen Crocker
It is with deep sadness that Jim and I heard of Tom’s passing. I enjoyed working with him at Clinton P. S. and Jim and I knew Ruth and Tom on a social basis. Though we moved to other schools and subsequently retired and moved away, we would always consider them as friends. Our deepest sympathy to Ruth, Erika, Geoff and the grandkids. He was truly one of the great guys. He will be missed.
Liette and Dave Fadden
We are so sorry to hear this news. Tom was an inspiration in the Weimaraner world and his caring and sharing attitude will never be forgotten as will the legacy of excellence he has left behind. Our sincere condolences to Ruth and family.
Keith Hurman
Sorry to hear of Mr Lion’s ( Tom’s ) passing. Tom taught me grade 7 , back around 1979 .at Clinton Public school .He was a great teacher of school as well as a good teacher of life in general .
Condolences to all of Tom’s family
Jeanette Dutot
Mr Lyon was one of my favourite teachers at Clinton Public School. He had a passionate and kind presence. Myself and another student of his once visited him many years later after he retired to see the dogs. My condolences to the family.
Tracy Brown (McIntosh)
I’m so very sad to hear of Mr Lyons passing..he was one of my favorite teachers at Huron Centennial Public School (Grade 8 1985ish). My sincere condolences to his family.
Kerri Gingerich
Tom was my Grade 8 teacher and significantly influenced me in reaching for success in higher education. He was one of the best. So sorry for your loss.
Heather McNutt
To Mr. Lyons family,
It was with a very heavy heart to have learned the passing of another cherished school teacher. I fondly remember his teaching and encouragement to us students at Huron Centennial Public School just outside of Brucefield.
Sending my deepest sympathy to all of you during this very difficult time.
Dolmage Loretta Dolmage
Our deepest sympathy Ruth and all the family.
Elda Tindall
Dear Ruth Erika Geoff & Family:
Heart Hugs to each of you, words can not make this sad time any sweeter.
Know that I am thinking of you as you travel this dark road.
Sincerely
Elda Tindall
Cam and Joan Addison
Dear Ruth, Erika, Geoff and family,
Sincere sympathies for your loss of Tom. I have a lot of great memories from our years atCPS. He was a passionate and gifted
teacher. I’ll never forgive him for instigating that winter sleepover in plastic tubes at the Maitland Block.
Jenn Penner
My deepest sympathy to you and the Family Ruth. Thinking of you.
Kathy & Paul Elliott
Ruth and family, my deepest sympathy to you all.
Sheila Feeney
My Deepest Sympathy to Ruth,Erika, Geoff and Families.I am so very sorry to hear of Tom’s passing.Keep all your precious memories of him close to your hearts to help you through the difficult days ahead. God welcomed an angel to watch over all of you.. hugs Sheila