Maxwell Joseph Lyons II

Biography: Maxwell Joseph Lyons II passed away on September 9, 2022, at the age of 96. He was born in Little Rock, AR on May 10, 1926 to Maxwell Joseph Lyons and Salene Marks Lyons. Mac married Betty Harding Brainerd in 1954. They were happily married for 53 years and were blessed with four daughters.

Before his marriage, Mac lived in Little Rock with his parents and uncle in the house built by his grandfather that still stands in Hillcrest on the corner of Kavanaugh and Spruce Street. Mac was a 1942 graduate of Little Rock High School, now Central High School, and attended Philips Exeter Prep School in Exeter, New Hampshire for one year. He went to Princeton University but his time there was interrupted for two years to serve in the U. S. Navy as an aviation electronic technician. Upon his completion of service in the navy he returned to Princeton to complete his degree, earning a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1947. He received his M.B.A. in 1950 from the University of Colorado. Mac joined the family business, Lyons Machinery Company, a third generation construction equipment and supply business founded in 1914 by his grandfather. He worked there until the business was sold in 1983. He continued his career as general manager of Darragh Company until his retirement in 1998.

Mac met his wife, Betty, through friendships made on a cruise between his uncle and future in-laws who were from Newton Highlands, MA. The Hardings brought their daughter Betty with them to Little Rock to visit. A year later Mac and Betty married and were happily married until Betty's death in 2007.

After they married in Newton Highlands, MA, Mac and Betty came to live in Little Rock where they joined and became active in the Unitarian Church (now the Unitarian Universalist Church of Little Rock). Mac and several other men bought the land on Reservoir Road and Mac was instrumental in getting the gas line down to the property where the current church stands. He also served as president of the congregation. In 1974, they joined the Temple where Mac became treasurer and served on the Temple board. Mac continued until his death to be an active member of Congregation B'nai Israel where he volunteered in many capacities including treasurer, Roseland Cemetery committee, and the temple grounds.

In 2007, after the death of each of their spouses, Mac and Jane Roark rekindled a lifelong friendship that lasted until Jane's death in 2019.

Mac always took care of others, helping in any way he could. He was passionate about giving back to his community and those in need as evidenced by the following:

An Eagle Scout
32nd degree Scottish Right Mason and Shriner
Member and past president of the Little Rock Jaycees from 1950 to 1962
Member of the Arkansas Interfaith Council
Member and past president of the Arkansas Jaycees
A Rotarian from1961 until his death, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1992.
Chapter chairman of the Red Cross from 1976 to 1978, and treasurer of the American Red Cross from 1999 to 2000.
Past president of the Arkansas Equipment Dealers Association, and a national director of the Association of Equipment Distributors
Member of the Jewish Welfare Board
Served on the Ouachita Girl Scout Council
Board member of Baptist Hospital when Parkway Village was established
2005 recipient of the Jane B. Mendel Tikkun Olam Award

Mac is survived by his sister, Mary Lyons Harberg (Jim, deceased) of Houston, TX, his four daughters, Nancy Lyons Kimpel (Bill) of Little Rock, Cathryn Lyons Wills (Jim) of Dallas, TX, Juliet Lyons Compton (Drew) of Little Rock, and Sally Lyons Wyatt (Keith) of Dallas, TX; his nine grandchildren: Lauren Baker (Brian), Rob Wills (Natalie), Kyle Kimpel (Jenni), Mac Compton, Whitney Cotten (Chris), Leigh Winans (Austin), Henry Compton (Reagan) Pierce Wyatt, and Dillon Wyatt. Mac is also survived by 14 great grandchildren who adoringly called him "Honey" as their parents did. They are: Bradley, Will, Henry, Luke, Greyson, Johnny, Jimmy, Hallie, Mary Claire, Clyde, Eleanor, Reed, George, and Vivienne. He also leaves behind two nephews: Jay and Joe Harberg, and one niece, Susan Jacobson, and their families, his wife's surviving siblings: Claire Richardson, Anne Doyle, Brad Harding, and Richard and Lynda Harding.

After a private burial there will be a memorial service on Monday September 12, 2022 at 12 p.m. at Temple B'Nai Israel followed by a reception.

Honorary pallbearers are Jerry Jacobson, Art Pfeifer, Bill Kimpel, Jim Wills, Drew Compton and Keith Wyatt.

Our special thanks goes to Jerry and Trudy Jacobson, Johnny and Kristen Seiter, Jason and Courtney Hornsby, Jan and Susie Williams and all his Mellon Street neighbors. We also want to thank Arkansas Hospice and his live-in caregivers: Sherry Jackson and Charlotte Keys.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our House, Temple B'Nai Israel or the Red Cross.