Graveside services for Stanley Mark Lyons, Sr., 80, will be at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Clark Springs Cemetery, Eros, under the care and direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes, West Monroe.  Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. the day of service at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in West Monroe.

Stanley was born October 26, 1943 in Waxahachie, Texas and passed away May 27, 2024 in Monroe, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his parents Mary Lee Moelter and Mark A. Lyons.  In February 1960, his mother lied about his age to enlist him in the Army, he was only 17 at the time.  After basic training, Stanley was stationed in Germany for several years before going to Vietnam.  He went to OCS after Vietnam and also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical from Embry Riddle and a Master’s Degree in Human Relations from Webster University. Stanley earned his degrees without ever graduating from high school.  His explanation was that nobody asked him if he graduated from high school, they only asked if he had high school Math. After returning from the Military, he moved from Florida to Louisiana.  In 1988, Stanley started working for Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry as a fire patrol pilot over Northern Louisiana until his retirement in 2005.  During his time as a fire patrol pilot, he had an “almost had to put it down on interstate”, at which he helped catch a bank robber from the sky and caught an arsonist from the air.  After his retirement from the state, Stanley dabbed in many things including online gaming and he played World of Warcraft for many years.  He went on gold panning adventures with his father-in-law.  They would spend days in the desert in Arizona looking for that elusive gold.  They even had a sign made for the back of their trailer “Gold Fever”.  We ended up with only a few golden flakes to show for all of this.  Stanley also at one point, started a train garden, laying brick, building bridges and playing with his trains.

Stanley is survived by his wife Toni; children, Melissa Burtenshaw, James H. Lyons, Stanley M. Lyons, Jr., Kelly Hamilton, Carla Nuvy; siblings and spouses, Kenny and Lynne Davis, Jim and Kay Rigal, Gary and Linda Branch, and Judy Phillips; numerous nieces and nephews; along with many other cherished family and friends.

The Major always had a story to tell.  Sometimes it was hard to tell if it was a “tall” tale or the actual truth.  It was never a dull moment with him.  He will be missed by so many and we will be left with so many memories of him.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

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