Lyle was born in Santa Ana, California but only lived there a short while. His dad moved the family to Kennelworth, UT, a small town near Price, UT where he lived for a few years. Lyle was raised in Moab, UT. He loved the city and surrounding areas. He would go hunting and fishing with his dad and extended family throughout his youth. He was a good kid and would attend church off and on. When his bishop told him that in order to be ordained a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood Lyle would have to show that he understood the importance of it by attending church regularly, he obeyed and never stopped from there.
Lyle joined the Navy soon after high school and served during the Viet Nam War. He served aboard supply ships and was stationed in Hawaii for a while. He enjoyed telling stories about his time on the islands. He made sure to attend church and had many wonderful times in the single's ward. He gained his testimony of tithing when, after deciding to follow the law and paying it, he realized that he was short of funds and didn't know what to do. It was then that he opened his desk drawer and realized that he hadn't cashed his previous pay check from the week before. From that experience he always paid his tithing and was adamant that it was the first thing to be paid from any paycheck.
After leaving the military with an honorable discharge he moved to Salt Lake City, UT about 600 North and 350 West. One day in church when Sacrament meeting was very full, the bishop asked all of those at the front to move over and make room for those at the back and he made his move. Janice Moore was sitting on the end and he slid into the row next to her and history was made from there. They were married on February 14, 1964 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Soon after marriage, Lyle was hired by the US Post Office and he made a career taking care of the mail. He also joined the US Naval Reserves and served with honor. In 1976, he decided to take a promotion in the Post Office and moved his family to Brigham City, UT. Unfortunately, the family didn't take well to moving there and he resigned from the Post Office to move back to the Salt Lake Valley where he worked as a Real Estate agent for a short time. The success that he had hoped for as an agent did not appear and he started at the Post Office again. While living in Sandy UT, he worked in Lehi, UT for a short time and eventually took a position with the Zip + 4 office at the main Salt Lake location in West Salt Lake. He was proud of the work that he did in assigning the +4 extensions to all of the zip codes in Utah, but he wanted more and in 1987-1988 he moved his family to Rigby, ID to become that town's Postmaster. It was a position that he enjoyed and he was instrumental in getting a new facility built there and improving the services for the town. When the Post Office offered early retirement in the 1990's, he took advantage of it and moved the remaining portion of his family back to Salt Lake. He worked a few odd jobs to supplement his income, but he mostly enjoyed his retirement and took many vacations and spent time with Janice. They were inseparable and one would hardly leave the house without the other. They were together for 53 years. In his sixties, Lyle volunteered to be a companion to senior men that were alone and would visit them to chat or play checkers if they wanted.
Lyle served in various capacities in the Salt Lake stake including the High Council and bishoprics. In 1975 he was made bishop of the 22nd ward and served for a year until he moved to Brigham City, UT. Due to the Salt Lake Stake's proximity to church headquarters he had occasion to interact with several General Authorities including Bruce R. McKonkie and he had a story of the encounter that can be told upon request. Upon moving to Sandy, UT, he served on the High Council, was the ward's Young Men President, served as a Sunday School and Primary teacher and was always involved with church activities. In Rigby, ID, he served as Young Men's President and on the High Council. In West Valley City, UT, he served on the High Council, was the High Priest Group Leader, Ward Mission leader and Stake Executive Secretary. He served with his dear wife one two missions: Deseret Industries and for the Member Locator Department. He loved the church and the Gospel. He had a testimony of Jesus Christ and His church and never strayed or backed down from its defense.
He treated his sons and daughters-in-law as if they were his own children and loved them as much as his own children. He was so very proud of his grand children and watched with humble pride as some went on missions or were married in the temple. He attended their Sacrament meetings as they spoke and entered the temple with them as they were married.
Over the last few years his health suffered and he was pulled from the brink of death by a surgeon that paid attention to his circumstances and moved a surgery from the next day to that night. Because of that we had him for another two and a half years.
Lyle had a dry sense of humor and loved to joke around. Most of the time he got eye rolls and an "Oh, Dad." When he made a joke. He loved to have his back scratched and his hair brushed and be surrounded by family that he loved more than anything. He will be remembered, missed and seen again.
Lyle is preceded in death by his father and mother LeLand and Martha Elizabeth, and his sister Bethalee Lawley and his brother Gerald. Lyle is survived by his loving wife Janice and six children: Brad (Cheryl), Brian (Ping), Lisa Eyre (Layne), Rebecca Mott (Loren), Chad (Sarah) and Shaun, seventeen grandchildren and his sister, Mary Johnson.
Lyle will be missed by those who knew and loved him. We are grateful for the knowledge that we will see him again. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to help with expenses. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at the Hillsdale Ward, 3175 S. 3450 W., West Valley City, Ut 84119 at 11:00 AM. Viewing prior to service 9:30-10:45 am.
We love you Dad.
