Erica Virtue, Senior Gleaner Writer

The small Papine Wesleyan Holiness Church in St Andrew was filled to capacity yesterday during a thanksgiving service for the life of Wayne Omar Lyons.

The words dedication, compassion, competence and love were repeated many times during the service for the late Gleaner employee, father, friend and community man.

Lyons died on the evening of February 9, shortly after leaving The Gleaner's North Street offices and heading home.

Yesterday, his Gleaner family remembered him fondly for the dedication he showed to the company he served for 16 years.

Family friend Jennifer Millwood described Lyons as someone who was very good with his hands, "pulling down and putting things back together".

"He loved music, football and could have you in stitches in no time if you were having a bad day," she recalled.

It was perhaps those skilled hands that sent him to The Gleaner.

"He was dedicated and committed to his job. He did his job with passion. He was very competent with what he did. He was about solutions, not creating problems. That attitude was a trademark throughout his time," said Gilbert Callaghan, The Gleaner's maintenance and print manager.

Callaghan said Lyon's dedication was exhibited to the very highest during the passage of Hurricane Sandy last year, when he volunteered and stayed for three nights to make sure the maintenance process was in order.

TOOK JOB SERIOUSLY

"He took his job seriously and was offended if he was not informed about any problems the press was having, irrespective of how late the time of night," Callaghan said.

Lyons entered the company as a trainee pressman, and moved through the ranks to become press operator, maintenance supervisor and grade-one maintenance supervisor.

His daughter, Reshada, described him as an ambitious young man who wanted to give himself a competitive edge in all he did.

A graduate of New Providence and Half-Way Tree Primary schools, he moved on to Ardenne High School before further studies in engineering.

In delivering the message, Pastor Dalvern Williams said while he understood the hurt of the family and friends, it should be remembered that "death was an appointment we all had".

"It hurts. It causes a pain to hit us that no doctor can diagnose because a bond is no more," he said.

Lyons was interred in Windsor Castle, St Mary.