Michael V. Lyons, Vietnam Veteran, Active Civic Leader, Dies at 70

Michael V. Lyons, 70, of Haverhill, who was active for more than 30 years in local politics and civic affairs, passed away Sunday, April 16, unexpectedly of natural causes.

Lyons was born in New York Dec. 28, 1946, son of Michael and Gertrude Lyons. He attended New York schools, Albertus Magnus High School and graduated from Dominican College. He was a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was a salesman for several meat companies including M.M. Mades of Somerville, Dubuque Packing of Iowa, Mosey’s Corned Beef and Old Neighborhood. In his semi-retirement he worked at Market Basket.

Lyons was active in Haverhill politics. He ran for City Council in the 1980s and served on the Haverhill Board of Appeals for several years. He was on the Citizens Committee for tax override to build the new Hunking School. He was currently a member of the VFW Santa Parade Committee and the Comcast Advisory Board. He was a member of the Eastern Mass Umpires Association and officiated softball games in the Haverhill and Newburyport areas.

Lyons is survived by his wife Laurie (Roche) Lyons; six children, Rebecca Moody and husband Jeff of Atkinson, N.H., Courtney Trembler and husband Ryan of Wakefield, Nora Lyons Sauter, Kaitlin Lyons and Tyler Lyons of Haverhill and Jason Lyons of Washington; eight grandchildren, Brendan and Spencer Moody, Daniel and Blake Sauter, Harper and Hadley Trembler, Abigail and Jordan Lyons; brothers, Chase Lyons and wife Catheryn, James Lyons and wife Sherry and Kevin Lyons all of New York; and several nieces and nephews.

Services are Thursday morning, April 20, with visiting hours from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 South Main St., Bradford. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m, in Sacred Hearts Church, 165 South Main St., Bradford. Burial with U.S. Marine Corps Honors follows at Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Michael’s memory to the VFW Santa Parade Fund or the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, 10 Reed St., Haverhill, MA 01832.