Tedd Lyons

Celebration of Life

The service was recorded and is available for viewing. The service itself begins at the 12 minute mark. Click below to watch.

THEODORE DIRAN LYONS II

February 8, 1947 – April 15, 2022

Theodore (Tedd) Diran Lyons II, of Clovis, CA, passed away at home after a battle with cancer on April 15, 2022. He was 75.

Tedd attended Coalinga High School before studying at West Hills College and Whitworth College, where he earned a degree in United States History. Tedd heard the call to ministry while at Calvin Crest Conferences, where his father, Ted Lyons Sr., served as Executive Director from the mid-1960s to early 1980s. Tedd graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1973 and was ordained by the San Joaquin Presbytery in October later that year. Having a passion for youth ministry, Tedd was a youth pastor at North Hollywood Presbyterian Church before becoming assistant pastor at First Armenian Presbyterian Church of Fresno, CA until the late 1970s. For a short period, he held part-time appointments at First Presbyterian Church of Orange Cove and Dinuba Presbyterian Church before accepting a call to serve as senior pastor in Orange Cove, where he remained until 1994. Tedd’s final post was as associate pastor at University Presbyterian Church of Fresno, CA, from January 1995 until his retirement in 2013. Over the next 8 years, Tedd made more than 30 guest appearances in the pulpit, preaching at several churches in the Central Valley.

Deeply passionate about mission work and Christian education, while in Orange Cove Tedd was active in the community and committed to outreach. He founded a “Junior Club” comprised of local junior high students, taking those that memorized the most scriptures on trips to Los Angeles every summer. At UPC, Tedd lead multiple high school mission trips to Mexico and other locations in the Central Valley. On several occasions throughout his ministry, Tedd accepted invitations to speak and teach at Calvin Crest with camp groups of all ages. Perhaps his favorite activity as a pastor was leading biblical studies for youth and adult groups alike. A recurrent focus was on the life and thought of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a theologian Tedd held in such high esteem that he even named his female cat after him. She was nicknamed “Bonnie.”

Of all the scriptures, Tedd’s favorite verses were Mark 12:29-31, which says to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. There is truly nothing that Tedd loved more than gathering people together to surround them with love.

Tedd also dearly loved baseball and was an avid Dodgers fan for 67 years, starting when he discovered that the Dodgers were the first to draft an African-American player into the Major Leagues (Tedd always advocated for all people to have a fair chance and to be welcome at the table of opportunity). When visitors came to Tedd’s home, the TV was usually set to a Dodgers game. Tedd would rarely say “goodbye” to company as they were leaving. Instead, he would declare, “Go Dodgers!” Over the past two decades, he realized a life ambition by watching a game at every baseball park in Major League Baseball. Tedd loved to travel with friends and family and always found a way to involve baseball.

Tedd is preceded in death by his father and mother, Ted and Dorothy. Tedd is survived by his sisters Jacqueline Miramontes and Candace Goins; his wife Dione and his children Autumn Biedermann, Diran Lyons, James Lyons, Alysia Lyons, and Zeke Lyons; nine grandchildren: Keegan and Tristan (Jay and Autumn), Zander (Alysia), Gerard, Mareika, Cerys (James and Deborah), Landon, Lucas, Logan (Zeke and Taryn); and two great-grandchildren: Addison (Keegan and Beccy) and Maverick (Tristan and Chandler). Tedd’s passing is mourned by a great many friends and colleagues.

A memorial service will be held on June 25 at 10 AM, followed by a reception at University Presbyterian Church, 1776 E. Roberts Ave, Fresno, CA, 93710. The event is open to all. Tedd requested a cremation and that family privately scatter his ashes in one of his favorite locations.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial gifts in Tedd’s honor to Calvin Crest. Online donations can be made at: www.calvincrest.com/about-us/support-our-ministry. Checks can be mailed to: Calvin Crest Conferences, 45800 Calvin Crest Road, Oakhurst, CA, 93644.