Dr. R. Raymond Lyle

Dr. R. Raymond Lyle, age 86, of Versailles, passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics in Columbia. He was born September 11, 1925, in Maryville, Missouri, a son of the late Chester Raymond and Mildred Ailene Nicholas Lyle. Dr. Lyle graduated from Maryville High School at the age of 16 and Westminster College in Fulton at the age of 19. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a BS degree in Medicine and received his MD from Washington University School of Medicine in 1949. He completed his internship at Kansas City General Hospital in 1950. He was married to his lifelong love, Jean Perry, in 1949, and was by his own admission living with his perfectly matched mate up to this event. Together they had four children, Dr. Ray Lyle Jr. and wife Carla of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Linda Lee and husband Bo of Joplin, Missouri, David Lyle and wife Mary of Overland Park, Kansas and Dr. Shelley Lyle of Columbia, Missouri. He was especially proud of his 10 grandchildren, Robert W. Lyle, Nicholas D. Lyle, Marcus R. Lyle and wife Kari, Meredith M. Green and husband Jack, Allison J. Mardis and husband Brett, Andrew D. Lyle, Charles P. Lyle, Jonathan R. Lyle, Emily E. Lyle and Anne Lyle Eckenrode and husband Andrew; three great-granddaughters and a great-grandson. He served in the United States Navy Medical Corps on the USS M.M. Patrick and the USS Fredrick Funstun during the Korean Conflict as attending physician on troop transport ships estimating 12 Trans Pacific voyages. He retired from the Naval Reserves duty a LCDR after 22 years of service to his country. Dr. Lyle moved to Versailles to practice with Dr. Jack Gunn and Dr. Ruth Kauffman Johnson at the Gunn Clinic and was there for over 50 years. Dr. Robert Hall joined them for 25 years of service. After retirement Ray was especially rewarded to be active in medicine as a "Locum Tenens" physician and seeing patients at the free clinic well into his early 80's. Dr. Lyle was an Eagle Scout and was later the Scout Master of the local Troop 30. He also served as past president and board member of the Morgan County R-II School Board, was coroner of Morgan County for many years, was a founding member of the Board of MID-MO PSRO, a founding member of the Board at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Versailles, was a life member of the Missouri State Medical Association, a life member of the American Medical Association, a life member of the Missouri Academy of Family Practice, and was once selected as "Physician of the Year" for Capital Region Medical Center. He was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, 60 years at Versailles UMC, and the Republican Party. He was also a member of the Osage Community Elks Lodge 2705 in Laurie, the American Medical Association, and the Missouri Academy of Family Practice where he served as past president and chairman of the Board. Dr. Lyle especially loved dealing with people, so his "Family Physician" title was especially fitting. He also loved sports, volunteering as team doctor for Versailles High School teams and being a supporter of Missouri Tiger Football and Basketball. He was an avid reader of history, a man who dearly loved to rise and get to the office because medicine was what he loved to do. He considered it a privilege to treat patients. His affirmation was to say, "I am the luckiest man in the world" and more than that, "life just keeps getting better". He is at his best now, in the hands of his loving God. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Kurby Lyle. A celebration of Dr. Lyle's life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, July 6, at the Versailles United Methodist Church with Pastor Dan Adkison officiating. The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home in Versailles. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Versailles Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Versailles United Methodist Church or to the University of Missouri Children's Hospital. Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.