Bruce Arthur Lyons
1950-2023
STANDISH - Bruce Arthur Lyons, age 72, passed away on October 14, 2023, at Gosnell House in Scarborough, ME, after a very courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Skowhegan, ME, on October 17, 1950, the son of the late Arnold and Grace (Stoodley) Lyons. Bruce graduated from Skowhegan Area High School in 1969, from the University of Maine (Orono) in 1973, and from EMVTI (EMCC) in 1983. He then worked as an assistant electronics engineer for Fairchild Semiconductor for 26 years from 1983-2009. He loved his work and the friends he made there.
On June 28, 1975, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life - Pauline Morin. They resided in Skowhegan until 1984 when work took them to southern Maine. They lived in Portland and Buxton until 1993 when they moved to Standish.
Bruce loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing on Maine’s lakes and ponds, camping in Maine and across the country, hunting for moose and deer, gardening, and listening to song birds. Reading the comics and sports news (especially football) was his morning routine with several cups of coffee. He enjoyed all these activities with his wife and best friend. They were “two peas in a pod.”
In retirement, they spent several winters in Myrtle Beach, SC, and Venice, FL. They traveled all over the U.S. and eastern Canada, camping and enjoying the scenery, national parks, and historic places. His boyhood dream was to take a camping trip across the northern part of the U.S. to visit Yellowstone. This was accomplished in 2019. They flew to Hawaii (Oahu and Maui) for their 40th anniversary in 2015. Wine tasting in the Finger Lakes Region of New York was a favorite fall activity. Other trips were taken to Aruba and the U.K.
He also loved spending time with his family and friends. Bruce was a kid at heart and spent many family outings playing with the kids, especially in a swimming pool. In 1985, he was among the founding members of the OLD Fisherman’s Association of Reel Trollers group (the OLD FARTS). They could count on him to organize their annual fall fishing trips and maintain a web site that he created of their adventures. The current members of this group are Richard Jackson, David Ronan, Steve Frost, Tim Jordan, Jonathan Ronan, Wayne Greenlaw, and Kenneth Burwood. The trips will not be the same without Bruce.
Fresh squash pie (instead of birthday cake) and toll house cookies were his favorite desserts. He loved cooking bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast and making popcorn over an open campfire.
Bruce had an inner joy that attracted people from all walks of life to immediately become his close and personal friend. He always said, “I was put on this earth to make people laugh.” He had a wonderful smile and a very expressive face. He could tease you in a way that made you laugh.
Bruce was predeceased by his parents Arnold and Grace (Stoodley) Lyons and his mother-in-law Viola Morin.
Last fall, Cheri Ronan, a special niece with whom Bruce shared many laughs, predeceased him.
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 48 years, Pauline.
Two siblings survive him: his brother Theodore Lyons (Kathy) of Hollidaysburg, PA; and his “favorite” sister Nancy Schubach (Carl) of Lowville, NY.
Bruce shared many family gatherings and adventures with his wife’s siblings who also survive him: Suzanne Ronan (Dave) of Oakland, Denny Morin of Winslow, and Louise Willet (Greg) of Athens.
Bruce never had any children of his own. He always referred to his nieces and nephew as “my kids”: Kimberly Quinn Hutchinson (Ian) of South Portland; Karin Brown (Hal) of Norridgewock; Kathy Vandegrift (Billy) of Shingle Springs, CA; Stephanie Powlin (Mike) of Penfield, NY; Michael Schubach (Didi) of Lock Haven, PA; Alison Dening (Darrell) of Oneonta, NY. Many great and great great nieces and nephews survive him.
In addition, Bruce is survived by four more nephews: Jonathan Ronan, Michael Morin, Matthew Morin, and Marcus Morin.
He is also survived by his cherished godchild Emily Jackson of Otisfield.
An informal memorial luncheon to celebrate Bruce will be held for family and close friends from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday, October 28th, at Governor’s Restaurant, 376 Main Street, Waterville, ME 04901. Dress casually and comfortably and bring memories to share.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074 for their support and comfort of Bruce during his final days.
To view Bruce’s memorial page or to share online condolences, please visit www.mainefuneral.com.