Gaylord Clark Lyon

Gaylord Clark Lyon, Sr., a native and lifelong resident of Mobile, Alabama died at home on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at age 88. He was preceded in death by his father, Franklin Heard Lyon, his mother Lettice Lee Clark Lyon, and sisters Lettice Lee Lyon Morton of Baltimore, Maryland and Lyla Heard Lyon Binnings of New Orleans, Louisiana. Born on October 4, 1922, he attended Leinkauf Elementary School, Phillips Jr. School, Barton Academy, and Murphy High School. Beginning in 1937, he attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia as a boarding student and after graduating in 1940, went to work for Strachan Shipping Company in Mobile. During 1942-1946, he served in the U.S. Army. In 1951, he founded his own company, Gaylord C. Lyon & Co., Inc., a real estate, mortgage brokerage, and insurance company. As President of Gaylord C. Lyon & Co., Inc., he expanded into the real estate appraisal business taking the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers courses and receiving his MAI designation in 1961. He was elected to the Board of Directors of Mobile Gas Service Corporation in 1973 and served on the Boards of both Mobile Gas and EnergySouth until 2007. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Mobile Board of Realtors. He was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and served on the Vestry of the Church. He was an active participant in several mystic organizations and was a member of the Country Club of Mobile. An avid outdoorsman, he loved dove hunting and fishing in Cocodrie, Louisiana with the Loose and Radcliff Groups. Known affectionately by friends and family as Dede, he was honored to serve as godfather to fifteen godchildren. A devoted husband, a loving father and a kind and generous friend, he was a man whose company everyone enjoyed. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty Gray Hays Lyon; son Gaylord Clark Lyon, Jr. (Janet); daughter Madeleine Lyon Downing (Edgar); six grandchildren: Gray Lyon Garrett (Kirk), Gaylord Clark Lyon, III (Jill), Jody Lyon Brinson (Charles), G. Edgar Downing, III, Richard Mighell Lyon, and Madeleine Maury Downing; and three great-grandchildren: Rebecca Rose Lyon, Liles Kirkman Garrett, and Marianne Hays Lyon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends at 9:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 4051 Old Shell Road, Mobile, AL 36608 or to Wilmer Hall at 3811 Old Shell Road, Mobile, AL 36608. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.