James J. Lyons

James “Jim” Lyons passed away peacefully on November 26, 2025 after dealing with dementia and other ailments over the last few years. Jim was born on April 29, 1941 in Providence, Rhode Island.  He was the oldest of 5 children and graduated from Warwick Veteran’s Memorial High School where he excelled in athletics and met the love of his life Janice (Jan).   He initially went to Boston College to play football but transferred to the University of Rhode Island (URI) after a career ending knee injury. He graduated from URI with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.  He and Jan married in 1962 and started their family.

Jim began his career as a salesman with Uniroyal Rubber in Rhode Island.  One of his customers, a golf ball manufacturing company, offered him a job in Ohio, which led to a relocation to Elyria for the family in 1975.  Jim worked in the golf ball manufacturing industry for the remainder of his career until he retired in 2006.

Ironically, Jim didn’t enjoy playing golf but loved boating and fishing.  He always made a point to attend his children’s sporting events but when he had free time you would find him fishing for Perch or Walleye on Lake Erie or working on a do it yourself project.  Jim believed you shouldn’t pay anyone to do something you could do yourself so you could also find him tackling a myriad of projects around the house, working on a car and helping his children do the same.  He also believed in the value of hard work which he instilled in his children, never being satisfied with anything less 100 percent effort.

In his retirement, Jim and Jan split their time between Ohio and Rhode Island where they had a home on Prudence Island (Prudence).  In Ohio, Jim enjoyed spending time with family, most notably being Papa to his grandchildren.  On Prudence, Jim was in his element by the water where he could fish and dig for quahogs.  He also loved to garden.  He was always there to lend a helping hand to a friend and enjoyed spending time with his close friends Jack, Eddie and Geno.  Together they organized an annual pig roast, the annual New Year’s Day Polar Plunge off the Sandy Point dock, made Italian sausage, and cared for large pumpkins.  Jim and Jan loved hosting family and friends on the island.  Jim even took his grandchildren to Prudence for the New Year’s Day Polar Plunge.  Despite his tough exterior, he came to be known as Jello-shot Jim on Prudence.  Jim’s favorite color was lavender.

Jim is survived by his wife of 63 years Janice (nee Carignan), children; Jill (Bob) Hanna, Jim (Chrissy) Lyons, Jeff (Colleen) Lyons, and Jon (Christy) Lyons, his grandchildren; Brett, Sarah (Bryan), Jake (Lexi), Dylan (Hannah), Lily, Jessie, Sylvia, Jimmy, Joey, Jonny and Casey, his two great grandchildren; Ryley and Ava and his brother Oliver.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Teresa Lyons, his brothers; Denny and Tommy, and his sister Maryellen Palmer. 

Friends will be received Tuesday December 9, 2025 from 4:00 pm until the time of a 6:00 pm service at Dicken Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 323 Middle Avenue, Elyria with Pastor Tim Scholl officiating.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Shriner’s Hospital for Children.

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