Rest in love, Mr. Lyon. It was an absolute privilege to have known you and to have spent time with you. I’ll always be grateful to Dulux for bringing our paths together. One of my favourite memories with you was working on the Whangārei store fit-out. It was such a fun week, filled with plenty of laughs, hard work, and of course, a few drinks along the way. Thank you for always being there, especially the time you came to my rescue after I ended up with that crazy Uber driver on the way to the Kingsland office. You were a true gentleman and a real hero in that moment. Thank you for the memories, the laughs, and the kindness you showed so freely. You will be remembered fondly and greatly missed. Rest peacefully.

John Boy, I am gutted! I am absolutely gutted mate! I will forever remember you mate! Before I even met you people at work people were like. You look like John! I was like, who the f#*k is John. Then I met you, and worked closely with you at Dulux for a few years. If you and I were gay! We would have definitely been together! Your kind is unfortunately a rarity these days. A world gone too far one way. When I found out you wee sick and we yarned on the phone. You were in good spirits and were only concerned that your family were looked after, it too just shows the way you were. A gentleman who cared more for others than yourself! This week John boy I will be upping my life insurance, as suggested by you. I love you mate. Hopefully you are having a cold one up there with ya old man bro! Xxx

John, I remember meeting you when I started at at Takapuna Grammar. I have great memories that will stay with me forever. 1 that stands out was how I used to come to stay at yours over the weekends - we would get on our skateboards and skate all the way into Devonport get up to no good then skate back to yours in the early hours and crash out in the tree hut you had. Good times! It was a while since I saw you last (you come down to Chch for work and we caught up for a few beers) You will be missed mate. Sending love to your wife, kids and all those close to you. RIP.

My old mate John. I was 12 when we meet, which makes for a 30 year innings. I’m not exactly sure how we became friends, since our first meeting was you putting chippies in my hair, but somehow we evolved into friends, and there is not many a teenage memory that doesn’t have you attached to it somehow. Many times shared at the Mitchell’s on Sanders Ave, or at your place on Eversleigh. Some might have described you as a bit of a rouge in your youth… but my mum always liked you, and that’s always a good sign. I can remember hiding under the covers of Emma’s bed so you would see the lights on our phones, when you’d come window knocking late at night. I’m glad you did give up on that pursuit, because you went on to grow the one of the strongest loves I’ve known. There’s a lot of heartbreak right now, and we know you didn’t go down without a fight. Your John Lyon. You don’t do things half assed. You can rest easy now my friend, we’ll all do our best to look after your great love. We all love you and the world is a lesser place without you. Moe mai ra x

One of the truly good guys, we will remember him with fondness always: from the young man with toothpaste on pimples, using up all our towels every weekend - to the fine husband, great dad, very great friend to many - a privilege to have known John.

We have fond memories of John as he worked for us in Tauranga. He was a great member of the team and always brought a fun sense of humour to work. From all the team at Linkup Paints, we send out thoughts and condolences to Emma and the family at this incredibly sad time.