Obituary

Life Journey Begins. . .

On September 20, 1948 a bouncing baby boy was born to Nancy Jane Ward and William Eldon Lyday in Taft, Oklahoma. They named him Henry Edward Lyday, he would be the only child his mother would be blessed to have; however; he would be the eldest of his father’s children, Nina, Wesley, William “Billy Boy”, Stan, Anthony, Yolanda “Yogi”, Elaina & William, III and he later gained bonus siblings, Connie, Jesse, Paul, Kenneth Matheny and Leslie Craig.

At a very early age, Henry and his mother would relocate to Tulsa, Oklahoma and begin their new life journey. Knowing God all of his life, Henry was baptized at an early age. He and his mother would make the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church their church home, under the leadership of the late M.D. Johnson.

He attended Tulsa Public Schools, Dunbar Elementary, Carver Junior High and the Historic Booker T. Washington High School, home of the Hornets. Graduating in the great Class of 1967.

Coming to the HOW Foundation in June of 1984, Henry led the company a few times before making a firm decision to make the HOW Foundation his permanent place of employment in August of 1990. Henry has seen close to 6,000 men come through the front doors of the HOW Foundation and has worked effortless under four directors. He has been a fixture at the Foundation and has served for years as a Foundation driver. It is folklore that he knows roads in Tulsa that the Department of Transportation doesn’t even know exist. Henry always had a kind word for the men in the program. He made sure all the staff got their daily vitamins, as well as their fill of hot links. Henry’s contributions to the Foundation were immeasurable. He will be truly missed.

Tinkering and collecting thing was his hobbies. He needed to know how it worked so if someone needed help, he could fix it. Henry loved helping people. Where there was a need, there Henry was. He believed and would often say, “God put me on this earth to help and give to others”.

On July 29, 2021 Henry answered the call of our Heavenly Father. He was preceded in death by his fraternal and maternal grandparents, and his father, William Eldon Lyday; stepmother, Oreaba Lyday; William “Billy Boy” Lyday, Paul Matheny and Stan Lyday.

Henry leaves to cherish his memory are his mother, Nancy Jane Ward – Jones; his loving companion for over 28 years Lois Evette Jesse; his siblings, Nina Lyday and Wesley Lyday Stanley Lyday, and Anthony “Tony” Lyday all of Fresno, CA, Yolanda “Yogi” Lyday- Gladney of Coweta, OK, Elaina Lyday of Taft, OK, William, III Lyday of Memphis, TN, Connie Matheny of Tulsa, Ok and Jesse Matheny of Muskogee, Kenneth Matheny of Pomona, CA and Leslie Craig of Summitt, OK; brothers-in-love, Calvin & Cletus Jesse sister-in-love, Lawanna Lyday; aunt Joann Mackey; God child, Isabella “Sweet Pea” Byington of Coweta, OK; A host of very special people in his life Victor Dinwiddie and wife, Lenora, Gloria Island, Bythelda “Thedy”(Matthew) Drake, Danny Joe Byington, Kermit Thomas, III, and Robert Alves – – Director of the HOW Foundation along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relative and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 5, from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., at Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Mr. Lyday will be held on Friday, August 6, 1:00 p.m., at Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Memorial Chapel, 2103 E. 3rd St., Tulsa, OK 74104 followed by interment at Green Acres Cemetery.

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