Colonel Sheldon R. Lyons
LYONS, Colonel Sheldon R., 70, MASARDIS, at Caribou, January 19, 2012. A graveside military service will be held in the spring at the Masardis Cemetery. Arrangements in care of Mockler Funeral Home, Caribou.
MASARDIS – Colonel Sheldon R. Lyons, 70, retired Maine Army National Guard, died January 19, 2012, at Caribou. He was born in Masardis March 15, 1941, the son of the late Rodney Lyons and M. Stella (Blinn) Lyons MacDonald. He was a graduate of Ashland High School Class of 1959, as well as obtaining degrees from the University of Maine at Fort Kent and the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Colonel Lyons began his military career when he enlisted in the US Army in 1959. He was a graduate of the Maine Military Academy in Augusta as well as the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Kansas. He served with the Maine Army National Guard for over 31 years, holding numerous command positions within the 152nd Field Artillery. After serving as Captain in A Battery in Presque Isle for 12 years, he was transferred to the Maine Military Academy where he was assigned for seven years. During that time, he was promoted to major then lieutenant colonel. He served as MMA’s supply officer, operations officer and finally as commandant of Maine’s premiere military establishment. He retired as the Executive Officer and Commander of the 152nd Field Artillery. During his command, he was responsible for the mobilization of two troop commands during operation Desert Strom/Desert Shield. Sheldon was employed as the manager of Amerigas in Presque Isle for many years. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish, was a registered Maine guide and was a member of the Maine Professional Guides Association for many years. He owned and operated Rivers Bend Sporting Camps in Masardis and was also a member of the Masardis American Legion.
He is survived by his special friend, Joan King of Caswell and her family; one son, Gary Lyons and his partner, Sue Veno of Denmark, Maine; two daughters and sons-in-law, Shelley and Patrick Flanagan of Santa Clara, California and Kelley and Aaron Brown of Gorham; one brother and sister-in-law, Jon and Sheila Lyons of Masardis; one sister and brother-in-law, Sheila and Leon Buckingham of Garfield; his grandchildren, Casey, Jessie and Nistelle Lyons, Tonie Marie and Nicholas Velazquez and Jamie Poitraw; several nieces and nephews. Mr. Lyons was predeceased by a son, Travis.
A graveside military service will be held in the spring at the Masardis Cemetery at a date and time to be announced by the Mockler Funeral Home Caribou.
