Leroy Keith Lyons

Memorial services for Leroy (Lee) Keith Lyons, age 80 of Norfolk, NE will be held 10:30 a.m. December 15, 2020 at Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater, NE. Burial will be in Ewing Cemetery. Family has requested casual attire, social distancing, and mask to be worn due to current health concerns. Memorial Funeral Home is handling arrangement. Lee passed away November 28, 2020 at the Randolph Colonial Manor in Randolph, NE. Condolences may be directed to the family at www.snidermemorialfh.com

Leroy Keith Lyons was born on March 15, 1940 to Donald and Alta (Skaggs) Lyons in Kansas City, MO. He lived in Kansas City, MO until the family moved to O’Neill NE where he attended school. As a child he enjoyed playing with his black lab, Skipper and participating in Boy Scouts.

In the early part of June 1958 he met the love of his life Donna Barlow at a turkey farm in O’Neill, NE where he had started working and Donna had dropped off her father for work one day. They were married August 1, 1958 at the Methodist Church in Yankton, SD. With this union they were blessed with four children, Leisa, Terry, David, and Steven.

Leroy (Lee) and Donna began their marriage in Omaha and lived serval places while raising their family including Lincoln, Stromsburg, Neligh, Atkinson, Chambers, Cozad, Long Pine, Bassett, and lastly Norfolk. Throughout the years he farmed, worked on irrigation systems, worked cattle, drove truck and finished his working years delivering water.

Leroy (Lee) enjoyed fishing, hunting and drinking a lot of beers with his brother-in-law’s Kenny and Garry, watching Nebraska Cornhuskers football (while always teasing Donna how bad the Huskers were playing), watching old westerns re-runs, decorating outdoors for Christmas, puttering around in the yard and doing odds and ends.

Life after kids and in retirement years Leroy and Donna enjoyed getting in car, deciding a direction and were off to wherever they ended up, they especially loved going to Estes Park, CO for the Christmas holiday where family would join them throughout their vacation, going to the Hill and weekend trips with Donna’s brother, Garry and his wife, Lorie.

Leroy most often was not a man of a lot of words, most who knew him would say he was stubborn and set in his ways. Those of us who knew him best knew he also loved his family, especially as he called them his “Grands and Greats.” The one thing throughout his life that never wavered, even in his last few weeks of life was his protectiveness for his wife, Donna. She was his “Dolly” and was told often that he “loved her the mostest”

Leroy will be deeply missed by his family and friends, but will always remain in our hearts and memories as he watches over all of us. Fly high, Dad.

Leroy (Lee) survived by his wife, Donna Lyons of Norfolk, daughter, Leisa (Marcel) Kube, Norfolk, NE and sons Terry (Jeri) Lyons, Helena MT, and Steven/Bubba (Peggy) Lyons, Long Pine, NE, 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, numerous other family including nieces, nephews, and friends.

Leroy (Lee) was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Walt and Bill, sisters Betty and Alta, son David Lyons and great-grandson Jameson Painter.