Lyle Martin Gawley

Lyle Martin Gawley was born September 22, 1938 to Ralph and Zelma Gawley in Blackheath, Ontario, a farming community South of Hamilton.

Lyle decided early on that farming wasn’t his “cup of tea” and started at Dofasco in 1961, a Hamilton steel mill, as an overhead crane operator. With his first wife, he had two children: Paul and Christine. Later he married Denise Nyffenegger.

Lyle was passionate about volunteering with the Lions Club. He joined Blackheath-Binbrook Lions Club in 1966. After 30 years, he retired from Dofasco and moved with Denise to Kearney, Ontario where he also joined the Lions Club. After the death of his wife, Denise in 2009, he moved to North Bay where he once again joined the Lions Club. He was a dedicated and active Lions Club member right up until the time of his death, almost 60 years!

Lyle died peacefully at the North Bay Regional Health Centre on Wednesday April 16, 2025. He is survived by his son Paul Gawley (Ruthann), daughter Christine Billings, stepson Mark Nyffenegger (Corinne), 7 grandchildren and 2 great-granddaughters, his sister Lorraine (Doug) McDonald and their family. Lyle will also be remembered and missed by his close friend Fran Shore.

The family will receive visitors at the Opatovsky Funeral Home-Dempster Chapel, 210 Ontario Street in Burk’s Falls Ontario on Wednesday April 23, 2025, from 1-3 pm with a Lion’s Memorial service at 2:30pm. A service to celebrate Lyle’s life will be conducted in the Blackheath United Church, 2320 Haldibrook Rd, Glanbrook, Ontario on Thursday April 24, 2025 commencing at 1:00 pm. Interment in the Blackheath Cemetery will follow. Donations to the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides would be sincerely appreciated by the family.