Blake "Chip" Lyons

Blake Hamilton Lyons, also known as “Chip”, was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, coach, teammate, mentor and friend. He passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 following a short, but brave fight against colon cancer.

Blake was born on August 15th, 1965 in Mansfield, Ohio, the youngest child of Clifford and Hermina Lyons. He had a knack for sports from a young age and played baseball at Ontario High School, while also being heavily involved in DeMolay International. He eventually went on to play baseball for Baldwin-Wallace College after receiving an athletic scholarship. He was part of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity chapter at BW and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education during this time. He kicked off his coaching career at his alma mater, Ontario High School, as an assistant baseball coach.

Blake began his teaching career at Oakland Elementary School, and eventually went on to teach at Eagles Landing High School, Cotton Indian Elementary, and Jones County High School, from where he retired in 2020.

During his time as a teacher, Blake followed his passion for athletics and coached multiple sports including softball, baseball, basketball, and golf. In his coaching career, he led two of his softball teams to state championships; first at Eagle’s Landing in 1999, and again at Jones County in 2010. He led multiple teams to numerous regional championship victories in various sports while accumulating over 500 softball wins in the state of Georgia. Following his retirement in 2020, at the peak of his golf game and itching for more team competition, Blake once again began coaching softball at Northwest High School in Clarksville, Tennessee in 2021, where he led his 2023 team to a regional finals appearance for the first time since 1984. His passion for teaching and coaching had a far reach, and he made lasting impacts on countless lives during his 32 year career.

While Blake is known for his success on the field, he was also a great family-man off the field. He was a loving husband of 33 years to his wife Victoria “Vikki” (Forry) Lyons. The two married after a short courtship and Blake’s aggressive wooing on December 29th, 1990, and the two moved to Georgia shortly thereafter. They welcomed their son Mitchel in April of 1996 and their daughter Rachel in February of 1999. Mitchel and Rachel, who were fully steeped in the life of being a “Coach’s Kid”, were also supported by a father who gladly attended band and cheer competitions along with a myriad of concerts, golf matches and events to support his children and their passions. A close-knit unit that thoroughly enjoyed Ohio State football, Cleveland sports, adventurous trips abroad and stateside, Blake would boast his family as his greatest accomplishment. 

One of Blake’s core philosophies was to “leave things better than you found them”, and this carried over to all facets of his life; he was an upstanding member of his community, committed family man, and dedicated follower of Christ, all while touching the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. 

Blake will be greatly missed by his wife, Victoria “Vikki”; his children, Mitchel (Hannah) and Rachel (Kirk); his mother, Hermina; his sisters, Vikki (Steve) Wooley and Kelly (Randy) Stone; his brother, Troy (Cristy) Lyons; a large extended family, and countless friends. 

He is preceded in death by his father, Clifford; his brothers, Terry Lyons and Scott Lyons; his sister Sheila Roberts; his grandparents, Gus and Francis Rehberg, William and Virgie Lyons; his aunt and uncle, Fred and Joyce Rehberg, and cousins Lance Rehberg and Lori Barnett.

While Blake has left an undeniable mark on this world, we take solace in knowing that we will one day be reunited with him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

There will be a celebration of life in Blake’s memory in Gray, Georgia at Gray Methodist Church on Friday, July 19th, 2024 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, Blake had requested before passing that donations be made to any local sports programs in his memory, keeping alive the idea of “leaving things better than you found them.”