John Brevard Lyday CHARLOTTE - John Lyday died unexpectedly on Sunday, March 27th, 2016, in Tokyo, Japan. John was born on November 12, 1961, in Charlotte, NC, to Dr. William Davie Lyday and Mrs. Deborah Le Baron Lyday. John grew up in Charlotte and graduated with honors from Charlotte Latin School in 1980. He attended Davidson College and joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, where he made lifelong friends. He graduated in the class of 1984. John had an adventurous spirit and a love for life. After graduation he traveled and worked around the world. He enjoyed many different cultures and customs and being in the midst of the world's beauty. After a summer of working in Alaska at a Salmon Cannery, John took off to see more of the world. He hiked part of Mount Everest in Nepal and then onto India, Thailand, Burma, China and his favorite, Japan. John made friends where ever he went. Music was another passion of John's. He play the guitar beautifully. When he had time, he enjoyed playing in a band with his friends in Japan. While teaching in Northern California, John met Kanako Asai. They became engaged and were married in Charlotte, NC on May 10th, 1997. Years later, John started his own Wealth Management and Tax Consultant business in Tokyo. In 2012 John and Kanako moved their family from Japan to Charlotte, NC, while still keeping his business in Tokyo. John is remembered by his family and friends for his love of life, his warm easy smile and his dry wit. He will be greatly missed, always loved and never forgotten. He is survived by his wife, Kanako and their two daughters, Elysia and Ashley; his parents, William and Deborah Lyday; his sisters, Catharine Mason Lyday and Anne Armistead Lyday; and his brother, Dr. William Davie Lyday II; his sister-in-law, Katie Lyday and his nephews, Ben, Nathan, and Trip (William D. III). A celebration for John Lyday's life will be held on April 22nd, at 2:00 pm, at Christ Episcopal Church,1412 Providence Rd., Charlotte NC, 28207. Reception to follow the service.

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Published by Charlotte Observer from Apr. 10 to Apr. 20, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for John Lyday

31 Entries

June 18, 2016

It was just a few days ago that I became aware of John's death. I was shocked! It seemed like just yesterday when i had e-mailed him about this year's jam wish list. The time we spent, though short, in meeting to pass of my tax information to him and getting the completed form back was always an enjoyable experience. I will truly miss his advice and help each year around tax season. May the Lord comfort his family at this time of sorrow. Elyse and Yoshi Morishita

René Milan

June 10, 2016

We shall not forget you.

Lang Craighill

May 19, 2016

I'll always be grateful to John for helping me get our finances in order and guiding me through the maze of US taxes and investments while living abroad. He made talking about such things relaxing and easy, and even enjoyable. He was generous with his time, and we would often let the conversation run into wonderful tangents. I will miss those conversations, and even after ten years of being his client, wish I had taken the opportunity to get to know him better.

Dan Bradford

May 15, 2016

Very sad to hear of this news. John was a good man, honest and trustworthy, that I had the good fortune to meet a few years ago in Tokyo. We shared a love of music and travel, and with his wise management and wry sense of humor the scary world of taxes was actually fun at times. My deepest condolences to his wife, children, and family. RIP John.

May 7, 2016

Midori Johnson

April 27, 2016

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We are sorry for your loss.

Shared happiness

Mark and Yumi Jolliff

April 22, 2016

Dear Lyday Family,
John was an exceptional human being. In this world of "ME!," he was much more about "you." He listened, he laughed, and he cared. We are so sorry for your loss and for ours. We will remember John always. Our hearts are with you.

Tom Lippe

April 21, 2016

John was a true friend and a source of inspiration to look for the neglected, unexpected angle on things, especially the hilariously funny unexpected angle. We spent so many hours laughing with John. My wife, Kelly, and I have missed John since he moved with Kanako, Elysia, and Ashley from California and now we miss him so much more.

Tonina Roboz Abplanalp

April 20, 2016

I was so very sad to hear this news. My twin sister and I both have wonderful fun memories of John when we were teenagers and young adults. He was simply a "good guy". My heartfelt condolences to all the Lydays--may your sadness be lessened by wonderful memories and the love of family and friends.

Andy MacKinlay

April 20, 2016

Dear Kanako, Elysia & Ashley, My deepest condolences to you all. John often spoke about you guys and looked forward to spending time with you over the holidays. He obviously loved and missed you all very much - please be strong and see you again in Tokyo next time.

JE Jackson

April 17, 2016

Johns interesting life and presence will be missed by many who knew him. May the God of comfort and peace strengthen you during this difficult time.(2Cor.1:2-4)

Michael Glenn

April 13, 2016

I met John five years ago when I needed help preparing my tax return. And each year since I can honestly say that the thought of getting together with John a few times from March to June and chatting about this crazy world we live in actually made the experience of filing taxes enjoyable. John was generous, funny and full of life. I have beautiful memories of business meetings with John that could have been over in 10 minutes lasting an hour or more, and I would still leave feeling that the conversation had just begun. John, I'll miss you. Our world is a poorer place without you.

Joe Peters

April 12, 2016

I still find this so hard to process. John, I'll miss seeing you at the gym and your friendly attitude every single time we met.

James Moynihan

April 12, 2016

Our deepest condolences to the wife, children and other family members of John LYDAY. My wife and I first met John in Tokyo in 2008. We hired John to do our federal and state taxes. We got to know John very well over the years and liked and trusted him immensely. We are shocked by the news of his passing. John was a fine person and we are sure he is with the Big Guy upstairs and will live in eternal happiness with the Good Lord. Why John was taken at such a young age and in such a shocking manner is most perplexing.
John and all of you are and will continue to be very much in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.

God bless John and all of you.

Our deepest sympathy.

James and Hiroko Moynihan
Tokyo, Japan

Patrick Newell

April 12, 2016

A Man who spoke and listened with his heart :)

Michael Lynch

April 11, 2016

I am deeply saddened to hear of John's passing. He was such a terrific person.My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the Lyday family.
God Bless

Lynn Chibiki

April 11, 2016

I will miss John and we will cherish all the happy memories my husband and I have with him. He was an extraordinary man. We will mourn deeply his passing. Please accept our sincere condolences.

Emily Hensley

April 11, 2016

Dear Lyday Family,
My heart breaks for you all as I know your lives will never be the same. John was a unique, brilliant, kind and humorous soul, and I was fortunate to know him as I spent so many days at your home with Anne in our youth. Your whole family was always so thoughtful and fun to be around, and I will never forget your hospitality and warmth. I hope John's beautiful wife and children can be comforted with great memories and that you all know how loved you are. God bless you.
Love, Emily Calhoun Hensley

Joel Glasser

April 11, 2016

I had the opportunity to know and work with John in my capacity as an executive of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. He was a fine man with a keen sense of humor. My sincerest condolences on your loss.

Doug Jackson

April 11, 2016

I am utterly heartbroken at John's passing. I never regretted a single moment I spent with him, even when we were talking about my taxes. Very few people you meet in this life are as warm and charming as he was, and even fewer are as egoless. John could have boasted of his adventures, but never did. He was an amazing friend and human being, and I am just one of the many people in Japan who will miss him and mourn him. Gone too soon, my friend.

Michael Craven

April 10, 2016

No words are enough to express the void that has been created by the loss of such a good man who was so special to all of us. Accept my sincere sympathies.

April 10, 2016

I didn't know Mr. Lyday, but I am glad he lived such a full and adventurous life. My sympathy to his dear family and friends.

James Davis

April 10, 2016

John will always be remembered for his generous and pure soul. He was a very wonderful person and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. James and Yoriko Davis

Sam & Maki Ogura

April 10, 2016

Our hearts go out to you and your family in your time of sorrow.

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