Captain Hugh Palmer Lyon, USN, ret., 96, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, March 2, 2011. Rosy was born in Salt Lake City, UT on July 1, 1914. He graduated Class of 1932 from Twin Falls High School and attended Idaho State University on a football scholarship. In 1938 he joined the United States Navy and earned his wings of Gold on July 27, 1941. Rosy was preceded in death by his son, Hugh Palmer Lyon, Jr. and his wife of 67 years, Betty Arnold Lyon. He is survived by his daughter Susan Austin Lyon; his brother Harry A. Lyon, Jr.; his sisters Mary Jean Middleton and Shep Lyon as well as many nieces and nephews. The Captain was a proud Naval Officer until the end. His career took him to England during World War II, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore and France. In the states he spent many years in service in the halls of the Pentagon. His two most memorable duty stations were Commanding Officer of VP-46 on board North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego and Commanding Officer of the Naval Investigative Service in the 11th District encompassing Southern California. He retired in 1971 after thirty-one years of service to God and Country. Rosy was an active member of Scenic Hills Country Club since 1958 and as long as he was able remained an avid and dedicated golfer. His love of golf and his military travels allowed him to play some of the finest golf courses in the states and around the world. Among his golfing honors were runner in the Club Championship at the prestigious Army-Navy Country Club and winner of the Coronado Golf Course Senior Club Championship. At age 82 he broke his age, recording a 78 at Scenic Hills. True to his Irish heritage he was a marvelous, trained tenor and performed in over 20 productions as a member of the Pensacola Opera Chorus. Over the years he delighted many with impromptu renditions of Irish Ballads, American Show Tunes and Italian Arias. Throughout his years of traveling he never lost his love for his home state of Idaho. Cross country moves invariably included a stop at the Big Wood or Salmon Rivers for some restorative dry fly fishing. Each summer following his retirement, Rosy and Betty would load up the motor home and head west to visit family and friends with the promise of freshly caught rainbow trout. His love for the sport ran so deep, that it often brought to mind the quote from A River Runs Through It: In our family, there was no distinction between religion and fly fishing. Among his many accomplishments were a passion and a talent for oil painting. He was a founding member of Pensacola Artists, Inc. (Quayside Gallery), as well as a member of Daedalians, Shangri-La Flight 21 and a season ticket holder for Pensacola Little Theater, the Pensacola Symphony and the Saenger Broadway Series. Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel aboard NAS Pensacola. A committial ceremony with full Military honors will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Pensacola Opera or to the charity of your choice. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.