Arthur (Leo) LaVergne Lyke

In loving memory of Leo, please join Barbara and her family and friends to celebrate a life well-lived.

Leo is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 73 years; sons Dan (wife Barbara), Dave (wife Gina), Tim (wife Suzanne) and Doug (wife Marcela); 10 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his father Arthur, his mother Anna and his brothers Jim (wife Karen) and Robert (wife Krista). 

Leo was born in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He grew up in Torrington, Wyoming with the help of St. Joseph’s Orphanage amidst the depression and World War II.   He married his high school sweetheart on June 20, 1952.  In 1960, he graduated from the University of Wyoming in Mechanical Engineering and moved his family to Garland, Texas, where he began his career at GeoTech/Teledyne.  After working on the Alaskan Pipeline, he changed his career by becoming the owner of Locker Room Sports in Dallas for 25 years. He loved working with his hands and built his own two story house on East Tawakoni Lake during the last 25 years of his life.

He was a devoted husband, loving father and inclusive friend to many.  He was a coach for many young men in Garland’s grade schools and Junior Highs in PeeWee Football, Grade School basketball and Little League and Pony League baseball for 15 years.  He found joy in sharing his gifts and his wry sense of humor with many close neighbors and friends in Garland and East Tawakoni.  He found the most joy in spending time with family and friends.  Whether it was playing dominos or cards, golf, dancing, traveling or having morning coffee on the deck, Leo found delight in living each day to the fullest.

He had a great faith that manifested itself in always helping others, even at sometimes significant personal cost.  He was a man who rarely complained, even amidst the physical and occupational challenges in his life.  By acting on the faith he had learned in the Orphanage, he made his impact on those whom he helped as a friend and companion. 

He passed away peacefully at home.  He donated his body to research at Southwest Medical School. May his life continue to bear witness to the importance of family and friends and the inclusion of others, especially those less fortunate.  We honor his life by our memories of him and by carrying on his spirit.  May he rest in that assurance.

A Celebration of Life will be held at his Lake Tawakoni home in June.