Jean was born in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1924, the middle child of William C. and Edith Hobart Labombarde. In 1950, she married James A. Lyons and together they had four children, William, Colleen, Peter and Shelley. In addition to being a caring and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and nana, Jean loved the game of golf.
Jean resided across from the fairways of Nashua Country Club throughout her entire life. She started taking golf lessons there in 1941 when she was a high school senior. She also spent time working in the NCC pro shop. As Jean’s passion for the game grew, so did her many golfing accomplishments. A lifelong member of the Nashua Country Club, she was a five-time ladies club champion, winning her first title in 1966 and her last in 1988. She joined the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association in 1946 and was an active member for over 60 years. Jean was the New Hampshire Women’s State runner-up in 1948 and its Senior Golf Champion in 1983. She proudly represented New Hampshire on multiple Tri State teams. In addition, she traveled with her daughters, Colleen and Shelley, competing side by side with them in several New Hampshire and New England Women’s Golf Association Championships. She also traveled with her husband Jim, playing golf throughout the United States, Scotland, Ireland, England and Bermuda. Jean won numerous mother-child tournaments with her children, and her son, Peter, remained a favorite playing partner in various mixed tournaments. She continued competing at Nashua Country Club and with the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association throughout the 2007 season, just weeks before she passed away.
Jean thrived on competition and will be fondly remembered as a little tiger on the golf course. She was someone you wanted on your team and as your friend. She freely shared her love and knowledge of the game with players of all ages and abilities. Jean especially enjoyed watching the progress of younger women players, both on and off the golf course, and so it seemed especially fitting to honor her memory by establishing a scholarship to help young female golfers pursuing a college education.
Since 2008, with the cooperation of the New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Jean E. Lyons Scholarship Fund has been lovingly endowed by her family and her many friends. It will be awarded annually to a female golfer who is a resident of the State of New Hampshire or playing member at a New Hampshire golf club pursuing a higher education at an accredited college or university. The recipient will combine outstanding character with promise of academic success.
