June 6, 1953 – January 22, 2021

During the early morning hours on January 22, 2021, in Kamloops, BC, Fredrick Roy Lyons took his leave from this world much the same way he lived his life – peacefully and surrounded by his family. Predeceased by his parents and older sister Margaret, Fred leaves behind siblings: Alan, Bruce (Pat), Don (Donna), Irene (Tren), Betty (Robin *deceased), Robert (Mary), Hazel (Art *deceased), Doug (Louise) and dozens of nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved very much.

Born in Kamloops, BC, on June 6, 1953, to parents Mary Jane and Thomas Samuel Lyons, Fred spent his early childhood in Kamloops. As a young teenager, he moved to Chase, BC, where he and his “brothers from another mother,” aka The Jones Brothers (Vic, Daryl and Joe), could be found playing ball, raising hell, and charming their way out of all kinds of trouble.

In Chase, Fred welcomed his first-born daughter, Nicole, into the world, and, in 1985, he met the love of his life, Diana McKenna. After a whirlwind courtship that included a road trip across the prairies and a brief stay in Ontario, Fred and Diana made their way back to BC to plant roots and blend their families. Little did they know that Fred’s daughter Nicole, and Diana’s children, Amanda and Jeremy, had already become friends, so blending was easy. And Fred and Diana welcomed each other’s children home with open arms.

In 1987, when Fred and Diana announced the much-anticipated news that she was expecting, the new siblings couldn’t be happier, and on February 20, 1988, Ashley May Lyons graced the world with her presence.

For the next few years, the family lived in Raleigh. It was there where Fred discovered his ‘green thumb,’ and he began cultivating his life-long love of gardening. Veggies were his favourite, but he planted a sunflower for each of his children and grandchildren in later years.

In 1992, the family moved back to Kamloops, where they impatiently awaited the arrival of a new bundle of joy. On March 12, 1992, two weeks late, the littlest Lyons made her entrance into the world. It would be eleven days until she had a name, whether that was because Fred and Diana couldn’t agree, or they were messing with the older siblings, no one knows, but it was Lori Eileen Leona Lyons who completed their family. And oh, what a family it was! It was loud and fun, chaotic and loving, and sometimes it got a little hairy like all families tend to do. Still, Fred and Diana made sure even during the rough patches, every child knew they were loved.

Over the next decade, Fred and Diana watched their older children grow, graduate, and eventually move out, so they took the two youngest and planted their forever roots in Louis Creek, just outside of Barriere, BC.

It was 2003 when the family, and 71 others, lost their home in the catastrophic McLure Wildfire. It took some time, but Fred and Diana rebuilt on a piece of land that overlooked the spot where their original house stood, and in 2005, the first of seven new branches on The Lyons Family Tree began to grow when Jeremy and wife Jodi welcomed their daughter, Fred and Diana’s first grandchild, Hailey, into the world. It was then when Fred decided that grandchildren, loads of them, would be his new favourite thing, and from that moment on they were.

Once Fred decided to slow down and ease into retirement, he picked up a set of golf clubs, something he hadn’t done in decades, and headed straight to The Chinook golf course where, in 2006, he would achieve every golfer’s dream by hitting a hole-in-one. This incredible achievement was one of his favourite memories and made shortly after his brother-in-law, Art Cross, passed away, so naturally, Fred dedicated it to him. He got the ball rolling for an extended family annual golf tournament in Art’s name.

In 2017, after a lifetime together, Fred and Diana made it official, tying the knot in their backyard amongst their flowers and their family. Fred was happiest in life when his children filled his home, and his grandchildren were running in the backyard. That, to him, meant a life well-lived.

Fred Lyons lived a life filled with great personal accomplishment. Where others coasted through life, Fred hot-wired it and drove it till the wheels fell off. He lived by specific golden rules that he passed down to his children; rules like; never leave a man stranded on the side of the road, and if you see trash in the ditch, pick it up – not only are you helping the environment, but you’re also collecting treasures. Fred collected a lot of treasures.

Fred left a legacy behind and a family who loved him endlessly. Left to grieve his departure from this world are his loving wife Diana, daughters Nicole (Scott) Amanda (Darcy), Ashley (Aaron), Lori (Brayden), son Jeremy (Jodi) and grandchildren, Hailey, Jaxon, Lyla, Brinly, Tatym, Avery, Aason, Matthew and Sydney.

Because of Covid-19, there will be no service at this time, and we ask that in lieu of flowers or donations, everyone wear a mask and keep each other safe. We are deeply heartened to know that Fred’s best friend, his beloved Bandit, was waiting for him on the other side.

• Date : 2021-01-22
• Location : Kamloops