Dr. Jay M. Lyons, 73, of Eau Claire, passed away on Tuesday, July 10, 2018, at home with his family by his side after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Jay was born on July 17, 1944, in Chicago, IL, to Clarence and Margaret (Mulree) Lyons. He attended Luther South High School in Chicago and graduated with the Class of 1962. He received his undergraduate degree in 1966 from Luther College in Iowa, and achieved his Doctorate of Optometry from Indiana University in 1971. Jay began his optometry career with his own practice in Ladysmith, WI. In 1983, Jay was hired as the first optometrist at Midelfort (Mayo) Clinic in Eau Claire and retired on July 18, 2004. Jay coached little league baseball, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin and Elder Care at First Congregational United Church of Christ. He had a life-long passion for sports, "teeing it up" with his golf buddies at Princeton Valley Golf Course and spending time with family and friends at the lake. Jay is survived by his wife, Julia; children, Jim (Rachel) Lyons and Deborah (Daniel) Davis, and their mother, Pat Reynolds; step-son, Mitchell (Shelby) Christenson; and sister, Sandy (Chuck) Misicka. He was known as "Papa Jay" to his grandchildren, Maggie, Madelyn and Allyson Davis; and Oliver, Hazel and Vincent Lyons. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, JacLynn. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Eau Claire YMCA, 700 Graham Ave. Eau Claire, WI 54701. The family would like to thank all the Oncology Mayo Clinic staff and St. Joseph's Hospice for helping Jay continue to live life to the fullest up until the end. Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 pm, on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home, 814 First Ave. in Eau Claire. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm, on Sunday, July 15, 2018, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 Broadway St. in Eau Claire, with Rev. Dr. Mark X. Pirazzini officiating. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service on Sunday at the church. Please join the family for a Celebration of Jay's Life with his favorite foods and drinks following the funeral service from 4 to 7 pm, at River Prairie Community Center, 1445 Front Porch Place, Altoona, WI.

Service Information

Visitation

Saturday, July 14 2018 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home 814 First Ave Eau Claire WI 54703

Celebration of Life

Sunday, July 15 2018 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

River Prairie Community Center 1445 Front Porch Place Altoona WI 54720