Tonya Sue Lyman, 44, of Memphis died Thursday, December 6, 2018 at her home following a long and courageous battle with cancer.
She was born the daughter of John Walter and Dorothy (Claireday) Logan in St. Louis on April 9, 1974.
Tonya completed her GED before attending Berkshire Community College in Berkshire County, MA. She graduated from the East Missouri Law Enforcement Academy in 1988.
She met Dale Lyman on September 18, 1988 while attending the academy, and they married on September 23, 2000. He survives.
Dale and Tonya are parents of a son, John Hunter Lyman. She loved her family and was deeply committed to her husband and son. She was in fellowship with the First Baptist Church in Memphis.
Tonya served in law enforcement for ten years and was awarded a Letter of Appreciation from the Chief of Campus Police at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO, for her tireless and dedicated service following the Joplin tornado in 2011. The Lymans opened up their home to two young girls from Joplin – Karly and Kaity Davidson – who lived with them during a difficult period in their lives.
She had a great love for animals. Tonya enjoyed raising, breeding and selling tropical birds in addition to her great love for dogs and cats. She was known for rescuing injured and neglected tropical birds and nursing them back to health. Tonya rescued a cat while serving in Joplin that still lives with them today, which she and Dale named “Baby J”.
Tonya had a creative side also. She enjoyed painting and sculpting, making jewelry, fairy houses and other crafts. She used her love and keen eye for crafts to create a small family business of buying local curios and selling them on the internet.
She was a person who was filled with life and a joy to be around. She was creative, resourceful and passionate about the things she enjoyed Tonya will always be remembered for her compassion toward others because she was one of the rare people whose compassion was met with action, making her an inspiration to those who knew her. She is deeply loved by her family and friends who will dearly miss her.
She was preceded in death by her father.
She is survived by her husband, Dale, son, John, and mother, Dorothy Claireday Logan, all of Memphis; and a brother James Logan of St. Louis.
A celebration of life in Tonya’s honor will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Scotland County Cancer Fund
7 comments
Tonya was a lovely person both inside and out. I could always count on her to cheer me up and share the trials and tribulations of our lives together through the years. We were friends through so many stages of our lives. I will miss her humor and gentle heartfelt conversations. I am sending thoughts of strength and love for Dale and John. Words cannot describe what a wonderful woman she was. She will be missed dearly.
I’m am so sorry to hear this. Lyman Family you are in my thoughts and prayers. ♥️
What an inspiration Tonya was to us with her kind heart for others. She was a blessing to Chester and to me.
My heart felt condolences to the family and friends! Tonya will be missed!
To my dear sweet friend Tonya, i love you with all my heart, you helped me so much with the loss of my own husband not even 7 months ago, you never gave me a 2nd thought in your life. I loved our talks on the phone, even more so when John told me how you were so delighted in receiving English Chocolate, i love you Tonya, i always will please find ‘my yes dear’ he will look after you To my special friend…. Hugs big hugs & a Vodka on me!
Sorry to hear of Tonya’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
When Tonya was a little girl she was friends with my son. They found a baby bird and brought it to me. Tonya ran home and found a tiny syringe and some baby food . The bird turned out to be a robin and lived in the tree in front of our house for a while. Every time myself or my neighbors would get the mail the bird would fly down from the tree and land on our heads♥️
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