Richard Lyons - The passing of a friend and a great Raider
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
There will be a wake Saturday, February 2nd starting 4:00pm at the Silva Bay Pub. Bring your photos, stories, and musical instruments to help celebrate Richard's life. He will be sorely missed on Gabriola and on Silva Bay.
We have lost a great friend. Richard Lyons died suddenly on Sunday, January 20th. He was holidaying in Baja, Mexico with his friend Laura and daughter Ceighlie, where they had spent 3 weeks sailing and camping on the beach.
Richard’s passing has left a large hole in the community of Gabriola and especially Silva Bay. Rich was many things, almost anything you needed on demand. Boatbuilder, sailor, mechanic, musician, chef, promoter of small wooden boats. Raider, friend, and father. He was Quill’s partner in Barefoot Wooden Boats, the instigator, teacher, and encourager of numerous woodworking and boatbuilding projects on Gabriola, and an all around raconteur and whacko. We, and there are lots of us, loved him dearly.
Richard was one of the chief instigators of the Shipyard Raid, a boundless supporter and participant, and the guy who got up every morning and yelled “hhhowww yaaaa feeeellllinnnng!!!!” He and Quill took endless delight in pushing everyone hard; he was also the first to help anyone who needed a hand, or to lead a water balloon barrage.
A short event (around Gabriola mini-raid) for this summer dedicated to Richard is in the planning stages. I will keep everyone informed as to when.