James Karl Lyons
1934 – 2022
Provo, UT—James Karl Lyon, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and uncle died on July 21st, 2022 at his home in Provo, UT.
He was born nine minutes before his twin brother, A. Laurence Lyon, noted composer and musician on February 17, 1934, in Rotterdam Holland, to T. Edgar and Hermana Lyon, who were presiding over the Netherlands mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Jamie was raised in the East Millcreek area of Salt Lake City in a happy home with five brothers. He completed Granite High School in 1952 where he played football and enjoyed singing in musicals. He earned BA and MS degrees from the University of Utah, where he met his wife Dorothy Ann Burton at the Institute of Religion. They were married in the Salt Lake temple in 1959. He graduated from Harvard with a PhD in German languages and literature in 1963, then served as an officer in US Army intelligence for nearly 3½ years. He was adept at working undercover gathering intelligence from espionage sources behind the iron curtain.
After his military service, Jamie taught at Harvard University, the University of Florida, and was the founding provost of Elenore Roosevelt College at UC San Diego, where he taught for 20 years. After retiring from UCSD, he continued to teach at BYU for 14 more years. He was an internationally respected scholar of German literature and published many books and articles; best-known among them is his work on the playwright, Bertolt Brecht, and the poet, Paul Celan.
Jamie loved the Lord and loved to serve others. He served a 2½ year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints to Germany as a young man, and returned more than 50 years later with his wife to serve with the single adults at the Institute of Religion in Frankfurt from 2008 -2009. He had many close friends and fond memories in Germany, of people in Frankfurt, Berlin, Hildesheim, and Augsburg.
Jamie served as the Bishop of the first Boston singles ward during the 1960’s, and later as a Bishop of a BYU singles ward. He served for nine years in the stake presidency of the Carlsbad California stake where he had many dear friends. He served on three high councils: in Boston, MA, Gainesville, FL, and Del Mar, CA.
Jamie loved people and was a friend to all he met. He exemplified the virtues of kindness and love to those he greeted with warmth and friendliness. He was well-loved by students in the wards he shepherded, and by the students he mentored at four different universities. He was a scholar, a gentleman, and a disciple of Christ.
Jamie was an outstanding father to his eight children, James (Maja,) John (Tania,) Elizabeth, Sarah Jackson (Brandon,) Christina Maughan (Joe,) Rebecca Hill (Keric,) Matthew (Lora,) and Melissa King (Jon .) He taught them the value of hard work and spent all of his free time devoted to his wife and children. In lieu of hobbies outside of the home, he made family his first priority. He loved spending summers at their cabin on Hebgen Lake in Montana. Jamie loved to fish and hike there with Dorothy Ann.
Jamie is now enjoying a glorious reunion with those family members who have predeceased him; his parents, T. Edgar and Hermana Lyon, his brothers, David, John, Laurie, and Lynn, as well as his two beautiful daughters Elizabeth and Melissa. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Ann, and their remaining six children.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday Evening, July 27th, from 6-8 pm at the Walker-Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 E 800 N, Orem, UT, and again from 9:30-10:30 am on July 28th at the Summit Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 4200 North Foothill Drive, Provo, Utah. A funeral service will be held at the Summit Ward at 11:00 am on July 28th and will also be live broadcast at www.walkersanderson.com website.
Published by Deseret News from Jul. 22 to Jul. 27, 2022.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315ATo plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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