John R Lyman

John R. Lyman, “Rick,” passed away from cancer, surrounded by family December 10, 2021. Life threw him the ultimate curveball, but he went out swinging. Rick was born November 29th, 1949, in Oklahoma City, OK., to John and Barbara Lyman. The family moved to Utah where John started a printing business and Rick begrudgingly became an older brother to sister Michelle (there were bite marks to prove it!), followed by brothers Jim and Dave. Rick is still remembered fondly by many as a Granger High School baseball legend, being acknowledged by the Salt Lake Tribune as the first person at age 14 to hit a grand slam out-of-the park home run at the Bees stadium to win a tournament game. He is also remembered for giving Burt Reynolds a run for his money in the school sponsored mustache growing contest.

Rick joined the family printing business, Lyman Printing and Stamp, at a young age and proved to be a fantastic salesman, establishing many life-long customers. Lyman Printing was beloved and respected within the community, and the rapport and friendships he developed with the customers were a big part of that. He remained with the business until its closing after 65 years. He continued on in the industry with his wife Debi as owners of Lyman Print and Graphics Services.

Rick and his first wife Joy Collard (Thomas) had three children - Lori (Matt) Guss, Travis (Michelle), and Brandon (Charlotte). The kids were raised at the ballpark watching their dad umpire and coach countless Kearns Little League games. Rick’s creative approach to parenting included celebrating the 4th of July by bombarding neighbors’ houses with bottle rockets, teaching and allowing the kids to drive well before the legal age, consoling himself and his teenage sons (but mostly himself) by sharing a can of beer with them after tough game losses, and weekend outdoor enthusiast activities like renting a VCR and five movies and eating bags of mini candy bars. These and countless other stories are retold lovingly at family get-togethers and are truly considered by his kids to be the good old days.

Rick later married Debi K. who brought bonus children, Dillon (Heidi) Browning and Melissa Piriwitz into the family. They were married for nearly 30 years until his passing. They loved weekend trips to Wendover, camping in their trailer, spoiling their little blind dog Abby, and cheering on the Utes. Rick found Christ later in life, and together with Debi served many callings for Discovery Christian Community Church. Rick served as a youth group leader where he was known as “Ricky Tang” for a dance that he came up with. He was also head deacon, part of the greeter ministry, the children’s ministry, served on the church’s governing board for 15 years, and was one of two trustees. He led the ministry to serve at the men’s rescue mission. He was considered a prayer warrior who would stop whatever was going on to pray and comfort anyone who needed it. It was through their church that Rick and Debi became foster parents to sisters Stephanie and Tiffany Nase for many years.

Rick was always humble, and wouldn’t tell you this himself, but he was one of the top donors to ARUP Blood Services in the state, generously giving 136 lifetime donations of blood and later donating lifesaving platelets. He was known as “Papa Rick” to his 16 grandchildren. His boys cherished the times they could talk him into a fishing trip. He enjoyed going to the gun range with friends from church. He had a great laugh and a dry sense of humor. Fortunately for Netflix, they can now shut down their DVD Mail Rental Service as he was probably their last subscriber. Rick, you will be dearly missed, but we’ll carry on because as we all know, there’s no crying in baseball.