Thomas Wayne "Tom" Lyons, 52, of Richland County, SC, died February 27, 2016 after a long and extensive battle with cancer.

Tom was born in Iowa City, Iowa, to Roger Lyons (Juanita) and Bernice Barrigar Lyons but lived much of his young life in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He graduated from Mountain Home High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Tom attended Submariners School and served aboard several nuclear powered submarines. He returned home to marry his high school sweetheart Lyn Koch Lyons. Tom and Lyn had two children, Curtis Lyons (Heather) and Jessica Lyons (C.J.) and were blessed with five grandchildren. Tom also leaves behind two sisters, Barbara and Kim; as well as two brothers, Russ and Bill.

After leaving the Navy, Tom drove trucks for various companies and subsequently found his true passion as a law enforcement officer. He worked for several agencies in South Carolina which included the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, the Richland County Sheriff's office, the University of South Carolina Police Department, and finally, the City of Columbia Police Department, serving all communities with pride for 25 years. He loved to drive race cars at the Summerville Speedway and was an avid motorcyclist. He was a member of Blaney Baptist Church, Dentsville Masonic Lodge #398, the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, and participated in many charity events to support his community. Tom also enjoyed hunting and fishing and his favorite past time was camping and riding motorcycles with his wife, Lyn.
The family would like to offer special thanks to Dr. Baldwin of South Carolina Oncology Associates and the entire nursing and medical staff at Palmetto Health Richland 11 East for their support and care over the past two years. They would also like to thank Chief W.H. "Skip" Holbrook and the officers and staff of the Columbia Police Department for their steadfast support. God Bless you all.

A funeral service will be held 2 o'clock, Thursday, March 3rd at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext, Columbia, with The Rev. Jacob Helsley officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to South Carolina Oncology Associates Foundation, SCOA CARES, 166 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, SC 29210 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Burial will be in Mountain Home, Arkansas at a later date.