Earlier this afternoon I learned that my great friend and Brother, my Grand Tyler, VW Don Lyman has passed from this earth to the celestial Lodge above.
I had met Brother Don when I made myself available for the office of Junior Grand Warden. He was one of the first Seattle Masons I met while on that quest, and I’m deeply honored that he gave me his support and encouragement from day one.
More recently, Brother Don and I became Brothers within the same Lodge when I became a member of his Doric 92, and we had plans for next month, a repeat performance. I’m slated to go into the East at Doric, and despite his health issues VW Don had agreed to once again stand with me as my Tyler.
I have a great many fond memories of Don, and have never known a harder working Freemason. He was a great man and Freemasonry is poorer without him. He achieved that great goal of living respected and dying regretted.
I’m sorry to have to say goodbye to my friend today.
My condolences to his family, his Lodge and to you brother.
Don was just like my Grandfather, although Don was 15 years younger. Same personality, etc. And my relationship with Don was just like my Grandfather's. And he knew that, too.
In a way, it is like losing my Grandfather all over again; this is a tough one for me. I agree that our Fraternity has endured a notable loss due to his passing. He did indeed live respected, and he died regretted.