Herman Ray Lyons

May 28, 1948 – August 24, 2025

Herman went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, August 24th after a lengthy illness. He proudly served his country in the Vietnam War. While unable to attend church, he faithfully supported Grace Baptist Church.

Herman graduated from Elizabethton High School in 1966. From 10 to 16 years old he delivered the Elizabethton Star to save up to buy his first car, a 52 Chevy. When Herman was 12, he coached a boy's baseball team of 8 to 9 year olds. He said he made sure they all got to play, got a sponsor that gave each a team shirt, and gave every boy a fair chance to play. During his last two years of high school, he worked at Winn Dixie as a stocker. He was then hired at North Electric, Gray, TN until he was drafted into the United States Army at 18. He served two terms in the Vietnam War in transportation.

Herman loved his family and had a heart of gold. He always asked how everyone in the family was doing and willingly helped people when they were in need. He loved to tell jokes and laugh when his sister Kathy and niece Charity didn't get the jokes and had to have it explained to them. Herman would laugh and say it wasn't funny if you had to explain it.

If you visited him, he was listening to old country music and could tell you who was singing and a fun fact about them. While in the Vietnam War, he went to a Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette concert where Tammy sang a song she had never sang before, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E". He also talked about driving his girlfriend, sister Kathy, and one of her friends to a Four Seasons concert. He enjoyed writing song lyrics, one was about "If the Lord Drove a Ford". You hardly ever saw him without a dip of Beech Nut, he enjoyed it so much he wrote about that too, "I'd Spit Out My Chew for You".

Herman was proceeded in death by his parents Ray Lyons and Faye Lipps Lyons and niece Julie Lynne Wilson. He was loved by his family and friends including his sister Kathy Lyons Wilson and husband Clarence Edward Wilson, Jr., nephew Kirk Wilson and wife Heidi, niece Charity Bell and husband Jeff, and niece Legina Wilson Singleton. Also his great nieces and nephews Katie, Lydia, and Kevin Wilson, Bethany, Joanna, and Hannah Bell, and Don and Noah Singleton. He will also be missed by his cousins and friends. The family would like to thank: Jilla Vandeventer with Home Instead, Kim Nickles a special care giver that came weekly in a great program for veterans, neighbor Marcella Issacs who baked homemade Butterscotch Pies, as well as those at the VA who were involved in his care, Waters Highlands Roan Mountain Nursing Home, and Hospice.

Private Graveside Services will be conducted at Mountain Home National Cemetery with Pastor Travis Tyler officiating. Military Honors will be provided. Condolences may be sent to the family at our web-site www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Lyons family