Harry Thomas Lyle

Harry Thomas Lyle

Most folks knew him as Tom, one knew him as honey, seven plus six knew him as Dad, fifteen knew him as Grandpa, and many more too numerous to count called him Grandpa Great or Papa Great.

For 94 years and 10 months, Tom was independent and full of life. On Tuesday May 29th, he joined Janet, Danny Joe and our faithfully departed loved ones in Heaven.

Tom grew up in Mena Arkansas, born July 3, 1923; he was the sixth of 10 siblings. He was raised on a family farm in small town America. In a busy, active family, he learned to love God, family and his country. Those core values remained with him throughout his life.

Tom attended the University of Arkansas where he studied engineering.  He played football for Arkansas and, as a result, was a lifelong and dedicated fan of the Razorbacks!

During his second year of college, Tom was "called up" and he left the university to join the Army Air Corps. There, he served his Country in a B-29 airplane as a radar operator for the duration of World War II. He served with great pride and many will remember the flag pin he always wore.

Tom came to ABQ after being discharged from the Army-Air Corps for health reasons.  Soon thereafter several of his brothers and sister joined him.

He met his loving wife Janet at the Sun Drug Store, just down the street where he worked for Standard Oil. He made excuses to go in to buy a coke, gum or cigarettes on his break; but, the real story was he just wanted to talk to her.  They married at St. Agnes Church in Mena Arkansas. She has preceded him death in 2005.

Tom was a faithful and loving servant of the Lord; he attended daily Mass, prayed the rosary throughout the day and raised his family in the Catholic Church. His faith was learned from his parents and he passed his love of God and church, first to Janet, and then to his family. He loved his family and friends.  And WOW are there many family and friends, all of whom carry a special story of Tom.

Tom had a strong work ethic, one in which he taught and instilled in his children. For 32 years, he owned and operated a Chevron Station in Albuquerque. It was a hub for the gathering of young and old. Far more than pumping gas and fixing ailing vehicles, The Station was a gathering place for men. Young men learned to work; older, retired folks came to chat. Countless folks bartered with Tom for gas or repairs when they had no money to pay. At the station, Tom always gave of himself, stopping to chat, fixing a car on a hand shake and giving directions.  He touched many lives with love and positivity.

Tom and Janet loved their Albuquerque community, their church and their friends. As one of the founding families of St. Pius High School, Tom would drive the kids over to the vacant land on Louisiana on occasion and say, "This is where you will go to high school someday." Tom loved their Supper Club Group, bowling, hunting, playing cards, horse shoes, Beer, queso, homemade bread & cinnamon rolls-pretty much anything Janet cooked!  

Tom’s only day off from the Station was Thursday and he chose to spend it with his family.  Family fishing trips on the Pecos were a regular occurrence and the rumor was that he chose Thursdays as his day off because he knew that was the day they stocked the river for the weekend fishermen!

Tom loved the Jemez Mountains! He and Janet built their retirement home, working on weekends in preparation for an eventual permanent move to Jemez. His sons and daughters helped with the work and his bartering skills came to life as he found help to tile and build rock walls with stones his children and grand-children had gathered. Tom and Janet retired to Jemez in. Tom loved to take the grandkids on Jeep rides; letting them drive the jeep on the mountain roads was a rite of passage for them. Keeping it a secret from their parents was a private joke everyone enjoyed. Tom joined the American Legion in Jemez and served as Commander several times over the years. His love of country and family came together as everyone gathered in Jemez annually to celebrate Tom's birthday and the 4th of July. The parade, BBQ and the American Legion, homemade ice cream and family time was a rich tradition Tom enjoyed immensely.

Throughout his life, Tom was the ultimate example of personal strength, determination and a strong work ethic. He was steadfast in his love for God and his country. His ultimate examples of unconditional love and acceptance are the foundations on which he built his life. He gave of himself by helping others, offering a smile, a handshake, a hug.

Tom Lyle has given each of us a gift.  He showed us how to be faithful; he showed us how to be strong, he showed us how to, with God's help, accept the challenges of life and he showed us how to love one another.

His goodness, spirit, and love will live on through each of us.  In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Servants of the Paraclete, Jemez Springs, NM.

Services for Tom will be held Friday, June 15, 2018 at Risen Savior Catholic Church, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. NE, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Daniels Family Funeral Services

7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87109