Thomas Colyard Lyon, husband to Elizabeth Lyon and father to Naomi (deceased), Christopher, Nicole, and Camille, passed away on April 19, 2015 after a short fight with neuro endocrine cancer. He was 68.
Thomas was born on April 17, 1947 in a small coastal town in New Jersey called Ocean Grove. After graduating there from high school, he was drafted to the Vietnam War and spent time overseas. Upon return, he started his college career in North Dakota and finally finished at Sonoma State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Geology.
After beginning his career in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Thomas met and married his wife, Elizabeth and they had two children, Naomi and Christopher. Afterwards, his career transferred the family to Winnemucca, where Thomas and Elizabeth would have two more children, Nicole and Camille, and where he would dedicate 35 years to the mining industry, working as a Geologist and later as a the Senior Ore Control Engineer at the Phoenix Mine for Newmont Mining Corporation. He loved his job and being able to be a part of the mining industry in Winnemucca.
Thomas helped start the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 744 in Winnemucca and was actively involved in the chapter since its inception. He was the president of the chapter for many years and made lifelong friendships with many other local veterans. He helped open a Veteran’s hall and was very active in all community veteran functions.
Thomas had an insatiable interest in intellectual pursuits that included music, politics, and history. Coming from a family of musicians and audiophiles, he played the piano, flute, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar. His favorite genres of music were baroque classical, rock, folk, blues, and jazz. Tom would spend a great deal of time listening to his vinyl records.
Thomas cared very much about what was going on in the world around him and endeavored to learn as much as he could through reading. He collected many books that were focused on history and politics—both national and international. In his spare time, you could find Thomas either playing the piano or reading one of his many books, sometimes several at a time.
Thomas’ wisdom, intellect, and stories about his colorful past will be greatly missed. He was an incredible father who held close relationships with his children, an amazing husband, a dear friend, and a great member of the community.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 on Sunday, May 17 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Winnemucca, with a reception downstairs afterward.
