John "Tad" Lyday

John Theodore "Tad" Lyday was born on April 11, 1959, at Michael Reese Hospital in

Chicago, IL, to Donald Chester Lyday and Jane “Jayne” Elois Black. A resident of Bayfield, CO,

John passed away on May 9, 2025, in Pueblo, CO, after being diagnosed with cancer.

John will be interred next to his parents at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield, Colorado.

Shortly after his birth, John moved to Ignacio, Colorado, where Jayne taught third grade at

Ignacio Elementary School and Don served as the Presbyterian minister for both the Ignacio

and Allison congregations.

John attended Ignacio Elementary School from kindergarten through second grade before

moving to Utah with his parents.

Later, after relocating to California, he attended Tuffree Middle School and El Dorado High

School, both located in Placentia, CA.

In 1976, John enlisted in the U.S. Army for a four-year term, during which he was trained as

an Arabic linguist. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1980.

John primarily worked as a computer programmer throughout his career. Later in life, he

earned an Associate of Arts degree in English from Fullerton College in Fullerton, CA. He

wrote short stories and poetry and later took an interest in photography and videography.

John returned to the Durango area several times during his life, most recently in 2015 after

several other family members moved back to Bayfield.

John is survived by his siblings: Steven Lyday of San Clemente, CA; Pamela Savage (née

Lyday) (Doug) of Bayfield, CO; and Christopher Lyday (Patricia) of Brentwood, CA.

He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Nicole O’Sullivan (née Paduano) (Gary) of

Eastvale, CA; Brandon Lyday (Reesa) of San Jose, CA; Adam Lyday of Brentwood, CA; and

Keelin McCaw (née Savage) (Kyle) of Cortez, CO.

He was loved and will be missed.