Dana A Lyon

DANA LYON

1949-2015

Dana A. Lyon, longtime Napa resident, passed away after a short illness on Monday, March 16, 2015. He was 65.  He is remembered as being a devoted family man, and an outgoing, fun-loving, generous spirit who loved automobiles, photographic arts, dogs, boating and above all, music.  His guitar playing was superb, and his spirit in spreading the love of music to all who knew him boundless.  The results of his teachings are well represented by how many family and friends play and enjoy music.  He was a loving father to his two sons, Trevor and Jeremy, adoring grandfather to Marley, and a pillar of the Lyon family.

Dana was born March 26, 1949, in San Francisco, but his childhood home was in the suburbs, in Daly City.  Dana became a Napan in 1960 when the family purchased a new Volkswagen dealership here.  He attended Napa High, graduating in 1967.  Shortly after, he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Freathy.  They later divorced.

From age 15 on, he worked in the family auto dealership in every capacity, managing the Parts Dept., selling VW’s and later BMW’s, and rising to General Manager. His honesty and dedication to serving the customers were traits still remembered by his many loyal customers while his escapades with hot VWs, Porsches, and the dune buggy caused frequent talk in the local auto circles, especially his winning the drags in his little black bug.

Dana went on to work in the Insurance and financial planning business and managing the family real estate holdings.  Never one to sit still, he then honed his skills as a Photographer, earning a certificate in Photography at Napa Valley College, before opening Studio II Gallery with his sister Sandra Ogle.  The gallery was a great gathering place for photographers and artists, and Dana was always a willing teacher and mentor.

Music was interwoven all through these years.  He had started teaching himself to play guitar when he was just a child in Daly City.  He had a few lessons, and even a little band while still at school.  Once graduating High School, the music began to take on more serious overtones.  He and Steve Jeffrey formed a band, Cobblestone, which played venues all over the valley for many years.  Meanwhile, he would teach music to anyone who asked.

He is survived by his two sons, Trevor and Jeremy, granddaughter Marley, and his sister, Sandra Ogle (Richard, deceased), all of Napa, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins, and his dog, Beau.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank “Al” Lyon and Berla Fay Poole, and his brother Gary “Steve” Lyon, all of Napa, and his sister Lisa Karen Longoria, of Roswell, New Mexico.

In lieu of flowers, it is asked that a donation be made to Napa Humane, or to VH1 Save the Music.  Memories and words of sympathy may be shared with the family on-line at www.tulocaycemetery.org.

Keep the music alive!

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