Roll Call Tribute

Robert Lee Lyon 

May 22, 1939 - April 10, 2024 

Robert passed peacefully from this life into his Heavenly Father's arms on April 10, 2024. He was born at Prairie Hill, Texas on May 22, 1939, the only child of his parents Robert Eugene and Evelyn (Harwell) Lyon. In 1957 Robert graduated from Klein High School where his father was the school superintendent of Klein ISD near Spring, Texas.

While attending Sam Houston State University, he met the love of his life, Carol Ann Lawrence and they were married in Alvin, Texas, on December 20th 1959. He received his BBA degree in August 1960 and began teaching at Sam Houston High School in the Houston ISD at age 21. He taught there for 7 years during which he was named one of the original 5 Occupational Cooperative Training Coordinators for the district.

This program allowed students to attend classes in the morning and take jobs in the afternoon under the supervision of the Coordinators. Robert taught in the mornings and went into the community getting his students into job settings where they could learn vocational skills for their future. He mentored many students during this time and enjoyed interacting with both students and the businesses who hired them.

In 1966 Robert earned his M.B.A degree at Sam Houston State University, attending classes at night and during the summer. In 1967, he began working at Wharton County Junior College in Wharton, Texas, teaching Business and Data Processing (today that is computer science). He headed the Data Processing Center which processed all the enrollment and payroll for the College.

In 1971, a PhD Fellowship offered at Texas A&M University was awarded to Robert for a 2 year program designed to prepare leaders in Vocational Education. He achieved the degree in August 1973,and began his career at Texas A&M in June 1973, in the Education Division of the Texas Real Estate Research Center. There he was tasked to develop a curriculum for a 2 year degree in Real Estate at the junior college level. This involved his traveling to all the colleges that offered real estate classes and organizing the instructors to create a state wide Real Estate Teachers Association. He genuinely enjoyed visiting the schools, meeting the instructors, and developing a curriculum that was adopted to give a 2 year degree for the students.

The programs have been a success statewide, and the association, the Texas Real Estate Teacher's Association still is active and promoting professional development for Real Estate teachers and maintaining core curriculum standards for the degrees statewide.

During this time, Robert and Carol were blessed to have their two precious sons born to them, Derek in 1962, and Bruce in 1966. They were the joy of Robert's heart. He was a great father to them. He also loved being a grandfather to his 3 grandchildren and involved in their lives. He loved reading, hiking, camping, traveling, rock collecting, and sharing those interests with them. Square dancing with Carol became a 30 year adventure, taking them to many dance events across the state and to New Mexico and Colorado.

He was especially proud to have researched his family history over the years and discovered that he is a direct line descendant of Captain Elijah Lyon, a North Carolina Militia leader in the Revolutionary War. He became a member of Sons of the American Revolution as a result of that research.

Other activities Robert was involved in during the years here in College Station included being one of the original organizers of the Precinct 1 Volunteer Fire Department, initiated by Brazos County Commissioner Bill Cooley in the early 1980s. Robert and Carol and a group of interested citizens met to set up and man the fledgling department. He and his sons and wife were called out many times to try and get fires under control, using the only the basics of firefighting equipment. It was very satisfying to see the development of the South Brazos County Fire Department that is active today and protecting the citizens as was only dreamed about at the time.

In his spare time, Robert also worked as an Oil and Gas Landman for several oil companies during the Oil Boom of the 1980s. He enjoyed researching land titles to offer oil and gas leases to landowners throughout the area. He spent many nights watching oil wells coming in, when the wells started producing oil. Having an interest in the production was an exciting and profitable time for him.

In 1995, Robert was a foundation team member of Christ United Methodist Church. Starting a new church takes a lot of work and faith. Today Christ Church flourishes and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the founding members.

Robert is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carol, his sons Derek (wife Becky), Bruce (wife Laura) and his grandchildren Dr. Kris Lyon,(wife Dr. Priscilla), Dr. Kaitlyn Stein, (husband Dale) ,and Austin Lyon. He has been blessed to have two great grandsons Dale Stein, IV and Preston Lyon whom he was able to know and enjoy. On the day of his death, two souls crossed paths, Robert on his way to Heaven, and a beautiful new great granddaughter, Adelyn Isabelle Stein was introduced to her new life here on Earth.

God is good. He has blessed Robert with a long, successful and happy life. He was a loving and faithful man, quiet in spirit but deep in thought. He knew Jesus at an early age and was ready to go home. May God give him the rest and peace that he now deserves. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. We rejoice that he is in God's arms and in His presence today.

Special thanks to Hospice Brazos Valley and their kind and compassionate caregivers. Our dear and incredibly amazing nurse Joseph walked us through this difficult time with love we will always remember. Also, our gratitude to Maddie, our visiting angel who adopted Robert as her own.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice Brazos Valley in Bryan, 502 West 26th Street, Bryan TX 77803.

A visitation for Robert will be held Monday, April 15, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Chapel - College Station, 2901 Texas Avenue South, College Station, Texas 77845. Following the visitation will be a graveside service at 2:30 PM at College Station City Cemetery, 2530 Texas Ave South, College Station, Texas 77845.