Leon Staples Lyon

Leon Staples Lyon

Leon Lyon passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at Hoag Hospital after complications from

congestive heart failure. Born May 1, 1920, Lee, was a resident of Newport Beach since 1968. He

graduated from USC in 1942 and served in the Marine Corps from then, until the end of WWII,

with the rank of Captain; he later served in the Reserves as Major. He then became a partner in

the family business, A. Lyon and Sons. They were the first importers of Kahlua, and later

purchased the brand. In the 1950?s he moved to Kentucky to manage a distillery as part of that

business.

He then went on to become president of Guardian Thrift and Loan as well as a partner with his

brother, homebuilder William Lyon, known as “The General”, in Luxury Homes. He served his

industry as President of the California Association of Industrial Loan Companies. In 1968, both

companies were sold, and Leon retired and spent his time pursuing his hobbies, collecting art,

and contributing to the community.

In 1968, he moved from Fullerton to Newport Beach. He served as President of the Board of

Trustees both for the Newport Harbor Art Museum and the Board of the Laguna College of Art

and Design, where he was a long time student in the marble sculpture department and took oil

painting from the renowned Roger Armstrong. He also served on the Board of the Orange County

Philharmonic Society for many years. He took an active interest in and helped to launch several

young entrepreneurs; the most successful being Glacier Water Vending, LA Eyeworks, and the

Conacher Galleries, in San Francisco.

Besides painting and sculpture, he loved to play standards on the piano. In 2009 (at 89 years old)

he recorded an album for his wife, Barbara?s, birthday. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, the

former Barbara Baker Burnham, whom he married in 2005 after a 55-year marriage to Molly

Lyon, who died in 2003. His married children, Bruce and Christine Lyon, Alain and Linda Othenin-

Girard, Curt and Wendy Lyon. His grandchildren, Andrew, Cameron, Alexei, David, Lauren and

Blake. His step children, Kay Sparks, Brent Burnham, Elise Juteau, Scott Burnham and Jamie

Hanson, their spouses and 17 grandchildren. His brother, William and his wife, Willa Dean Lyon,

his nephew and nieces, Susan and Raymond Isola, Christine Rhoades, Bill H. and Christina

Lyon.

Donations in lieu of flowers are solicited for the Carter?s Fight Fund (a two year old battling

Heptoblastoma). Contributions can be made to Carter Kipp c/o Shannon Delucchi, 1545 Meadow

Lane, Burlingame, CA 94010