Individual Details
Burl L. Lyons
(9 Jan 1928 - 1 Feb 2003)
Kalispell Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Montana, Friday, February 7, 2003, Page 8, Cols. 1& 2: Burl L. Lyons, long-time newspaperman and native of Montana, passed away Feb. 1, 2003, at his home in Niceville, Fla. He was surrounded by the love of his devoted wife, Ruth, known to him as his "Sunshine," and beloved dog Taffy, who were at his side as he peacefully returned home. He was born in Missoula on Jan. 9, 1928, to Omer and Angie Lyons.
He was sports editor of the Ronan Pioneer in the 1950's and later joined the Missoulian as state news editor. He served as business manager of the Missoula Timberjacks while the team was in the Class C Pioneer League. In 1950-60, Lyons was associate editor of the Hungry Horse news in Columbia Falls. In 1961, he joined the Daily Inter lake in Kalispell as sports editor. He later became managing editor and served as Inter Lake editor and publisher for eight years for the Hagadone Corp.
On Nov. 8, 1971, Hagadone acquired the Manchester (Conn.) Evening Herald. It was the corporation's first venture on the east coast and Lyons served as editor and publisher. In 1975, Lyons took a leave of absence and served as administrative assistant to Montana attorney general Robert L. Woodahl.
Lyons returned to the Hagadone Corp. in 1976 and served as editor and publisher of the Arizona Daily Sun at Flagstaff until 1987. Upon retirement from the daily newspaper field, Lyons started a weekly newspaper in the growing area of Green Valley in Henderson, Nev. The paper was owned by Mike O'Callaghan, former Nevada governor. In addition, Lyons was consultant to the Nevada Senior World.
He returned to Kalispell in 1990 and was editor of the Kalispell News. He launched the Senior Citizens in Flathead Valley, which was later expanded to serve all of western Montana.
Lyons served as president of three chambers of commerce, Kalispell in 1965, Manchester, Conn., in 1974 and Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1983. He was president of the Arizona Newspaper Association in 1983 and 1984, the only president in the association's history to serve two consecutive terms. He was one of the founders of the Ronan Area Jaycees and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Columbia Falls Jaycees for his efforts in lighting the football field. He was also instrumental in getting the Flathead County Commissioners to establish the Conrad athletic complex.
Lyons was the first secretary of the Northern Arizona Health Care Foundation, established to benefit Flagstaff Community Hospital and served three years. Lyons was a life member of Kalispell Masonic Lodge 42, Missoula Scottish Rite Bodies, Algeria Shrine Temple and a life member of the Elks Lodge in Flagstaff.
Lyons married Anna E. Palmer of Clinton in Missoula on July 2, 1948. She died in 1995. On April 25, 1998, he married Ruth Collins Mondragon of Niceville, Fla. in Kalispell and they moved to Niceville where he had since resided.
In addition to Ruth, he is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Lyons-Pogue of Phoenix, and Patricia Ann Ordish of Las Vegas; and one son, Steve, of Missoula. He will also be missed by his dog, Taffy.
He is also survived by three stepchildren, Joey and Todd Mondragon, and Darrel Hall, all of Niceville; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lyons was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and one sister.
Services will be held at Montana Cremation and Memorial Society in Missoula, 3035 South Russell Street at 11 a.m. on Monday. Interment will follow at City of Missoula Cemetery. A reception will follow back at the funeral home.
He was sports editor of the Ronan Pioneer in the 1950's and later joined the Missoulian as state news editor. He served as business manager of the Missoula Timberjacks while the team was in the Class C Pioneer League. In 1950-60, Lyons was associate editor of the Hungry Horse news in Columbia Falls. In 1961, he joined the Daily Inter lake in Kalispell as sports editor. He later became managing editor and served as Inter Lake editor and publisher for eight years for the Hagadone Corp.
On Nov. 8, 1971, Hagadone acquired the Manchester (Conn.) Evening Herald. It was the corporation's first venture on the east coast and Lyons served as editor and publisher. In 1975, Lyons took a leave of absence and served as administrative assistant to Montana attorney general Robert L. Woodahl.
Lyons returned to the Hagadone Corp. in 1976 and served as editor and publisher of the Arizona Daily Sun at Flagstaff until 1987. Upon retirement from the daily newspaper field, Lyons started a weekly newspaper in the growing area of Green Valley in Henderson, Nev. The paper was owned by Mike O'Callaghan, former Nevada governor. In addition, Lyons was consultant to the Nevada Senior World.
He returned to Kalispell in 1990 and was editor of the Kalispell News. He launched the Senior Citizens in Flathead Valley, which was later expanded to serve all of western Montana.
Lyons served as president of three chambers of commerce, Kalispell in 1965, Manchester, Conn., in 1974 and Flagstaff, Ariz., in 1983. He was president of the Arizona Newspaper Association in 1983 and 1984, the only president in the association's history to serve two consecutive terms. He was one of the founders of the Ronan Area Jaycees and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Columbia Falls Jaycees for his efforts in lighting the football field. He was also instrumental in getting the Flathead County Commissioners to establish the Conrad athletic complex.
Lyons was the first secretary of the Northern Arizona Health Care Foundation, established to benefit Flagstaff Community Hospital and served three years. Lyons was a life member of Kalispell Masonic Lodge 42, Missoula Scottish Rite Bodies, Algeria Shrine Temple and a life member of the Elks Lodge in Flagstaff.
Lyons married Anna E. Palmer of Clinton in Missoula on July 2, 1948. She died in 1995. On April 25, 1998, he married Ruth Collins Mondragon of Niceville, Fla. in Kalispell and they moved to Niceville where he had since resided.
In addition to Ruth, he is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Lyons-Pogue of Phoenix, and Patricia Ann Ordish of Las Vegas; and one son, Steve, of Missoula. He will also be missed by his dog, Taffy.
He is also survived by three stepchildren, Joey and Todd Mondragon, and Darrel Hall, all of Niceville; and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lyons was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and one sister.
Services will be held at Montana Cremation and Memorial Society in Missoula, 3035 South Russell Street at 11 a.m. on Monday. Interment will follow at City of Missoula Cemetery. A reception will follow back at the funeral home.
Events
| Birth | 9 Jan 1928 | Missoula, Missoula Co., Montana |  | ||
| Marriage | 2 Jul 1948 | Missoula Co., Montana - Anna Elizabeth Palmer | | ||
| Death | 1 Feb 2003 | Niceville, Okaloosa Co., Florida | | ||
| Burial | Missoula City Cemetery, Missoula, Missoula Co., Montana | |
Families
| Spouse | Anna Elizabeth Palmer (1927 - 1995) |
| Child | Steve Lyons ( - ) |
| Child | Marilyn Lyons ( - ) |
| Child | Patricia Lyons ( - ) |
Endnotes
4. Montana County Marriages 1865-1950.
5. Obituary of Anna E. Palmer Lyons, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Montana, Wednesday, April 26, 1995, Page 7, Cols. 1 & 2.
6. Obituary of Burl L. Lyons, Kalispell Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Montana, Friday, February 7, 2003, Page 8, Cols. 1& 2.