Jay Rex Lyon passed away on Saturday, August 29, 2026, suddenly in his home, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, community investment, and quiet generosity across Kansas and Nebraska state lines.

Born Christmas day, 1951, to Melvin L. and Lois (Secrest) Lyon, in Smith Center, Kansas. He spent much of his young life teaching his brothers to be ornery and working the land with his father and grandfather. Jay was a good storyteller and a lover of life who took hard work head on. He would regularly speak of his work as a pipe welder in far off lands, under water welding in the Gulf of Mexico, and teaching at a tech college. After a life of work and travel he settled in Nelson, Nebraska in 2006.

An entrepreneur at heart, Jay was well-known in the region for his business ventures, including a lime quarry near Nelson, Nebraska and a stone and rock quarry near Smith Center, Kansas with his father and brother. He was passionate about supporting his community and actively invested in the local economy, investing in a local restaurant in Nelson and another in Superior and structuring his investments to help local operators build their own paths to business ownership. He regularly cooked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey, and prime rib for anyone who would ask. Unknown to many were the monetary gifts he gave to many college students that needed assistance but would not receive traditional funding, and loans he would describe in private as "bad loans to good people." He was a long time EMT of the Nelson Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Lois Lyon, and his brothers, Dennis "Dean" Lyon, Clay Lyon, and Fredie "Scott" Lyon.

A Celebration of Jay's Life will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 starting at noon at D & D's Lyon's Den in Nelson, Nebraska. Come share stories of Jay over a meal and enjoy a time of fellowship together. In lieu of flowers and memorial donations take time to talk to someone you haven't seen in a while, help out a person who needs it, and consider supporting your local community. Megrue-Price Funeral Home is assisting the family with his arrangements.