James Philip Lyons III

James “Jim” Philip Lyons III, born July 14th, 1958, completed his long, strange, trip on November 26th, 2022 in Spokane, Washington. He was 64 years old. Jim died how he lived: surrounded by love, good vibes, and groovy jams.

Jim will be remembered, first and foremost, for his kindness. To experience Jim’s presence was to be overwhelmed by the sense that you matter. Jim befriended at least 95% of the strangers he met. As for the other 5%? In Jim’s own words: “I don’t like mean people.” He dedicated his career to helping people, working as an RN for 30 years, most of those years as an emergency room trauma nurse. He had an uncanny ability to assuage even the most hostile of patients. He was given his nickname “Dr. Hippy Pants” by a particularly belligerent intoxicated person who had taken a liking to him.

Jim was a hereditarily gifted fisherman. He was also a lucky fisherman. Always sharing his gifts and talents with others, Jim prided himself on his ability to help anyone catch their first fish. He did just that for his children, grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Jim would skillfully hook a big fish, reel it almost all the way in, and then hand his rod to whatever kid he felt most needed to catch a fish at that moment. When he wasn’t fishing with kids, though, Jim always had the biggest catch of the day — or so we’re told. He only fished catch-and-release and always forgot his measuring tape.

Jim danced through life, and spent his entire existence filling this world with beautiful music. Jim played the guitar, sang, and wrote songs. He scribbled potential song lyrics on every envelope and receipt that came into his possession. For years, he graced his South Hill neighborhood with the sounds of Sunday afternoon jam sessions, often moving band practice to the front yard. His band’s name was ever changing. He cherished the time he spent playing with Endangered Species. And with Florence and the Nightingales. And with Flight Risk. And most currently with The Joy Junkies.

In 2003, Jim brought his guitar to the second ever Spokane Street Music Week, an event bringing buskers downtown to raise money for the food bank. Over the next nineteen years, he attended nearly every single day of Street Music Week, eventually becoming a co-organizer and “de-facto CEO” of the project. Over the years, Jimmy helped Street Music to raise over $300,000 to feed hungry people.

Jimmy delighted in fellowship and community. He proudly sported 19 years of sobriety, and engaged his concert-going community as a Wharf Rat --- one of many sober, concert-going Deadheads. He was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Over the years, he guided countless people through the steps as a sponsor. In meetings, he was known to embrace newcomers and to celebrate every step of their journey. Jimmy loved long conversations and spent much of his life sitting on his front porch with a cup of coffee and a friend. He always picked up the phone and had a nugget of wisdom to share.


Jim loved his family emphatically. Every year on Christmas, he would make an eggs benedict and “potata’” breakfast for his entire extended family (and whoever else needed somewhere to be). He will be so incredibly missed by his surviving family, including his six children: Kristen, James, Michael, Emma, Benjamin, and Elijah-Blue as well as his two grandchildren, Cyrus and Layla. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Gregoire, Bridget Pearce, and Eileen Fouts and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents: Ruth Eileen Walker, and James Philip Lyons II and his siblings Pat Lyons, Sue Harmon, and Ellie Rowland.

Jim, may your bright soul shine on through the rivers and the trees, and through all of us. We sure do love ya.

A “love-fest” Celebration of Life will take place at noon on Saturday, January 14th at The Alano Club in Spokane. A Catholic funeral mass will take place at 11 am on Monday, January 16th at St. Augustine parish in Spokane.

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