Chrys Dee Lemon

chrys lemon
Chrys Dee Lemon Obituary

Chrys Dee Lemon, beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend of many, died on August 27, 2022, in Washington, D.C. His death occurred after losing an intense struggle with the side effects of prescription pharmaceuticals, despite the efforts of many good people. He was 64.

On December 13, 1957, Chrys was born to parents Bob and Mary Lou (Smith) Lemon at Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton, Texas. Although his arrival in the world was 5 minutes later than his twin sister, Robyn, Chrys was a natural leader from the start.

The Lemon family home of three boys and a girl bustled with activity, but it also was filled with the sound of music. Chrys played the cornet in the school band, sang in the A Capella Chorus, was a soloist at the Perryton Annual Spring Concert and was a member of multiple singing groups including the Booker Bank Notes, church choirs, and the renowned Congressional Chorus in Washington, D.C. After Mary Lou died in 2002, Chrys produced a unique and moving musicale as a tribute to the memory of his mother which he presented to his family each year.

Those who know Chrys will not be surprised to learn he was an Eagle Scout, Student Body President, delegate to Texas Boys State, voted Best Citizen as a high school sophomore and Best All-Around his senior year, an honor he shared with his twin sister, Robyn. In addition to his school leadership and academic achievements, he was always involved in community service. Upon high school graduation in

1976, Chrys received a Congressional appointment to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He graduated from the Academy in 1980 – claiming “No Demerits!”- with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.

While at the Academy, Chrys sang in the Cadet Chorale and the Cadet Protestant Choir and was also selected as an exchange cadet with the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1978. He was trained as a fighter pilot and served as an instructor for students learning to fly the T-38 fighter jet. During the time he was stationed at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, he obtained his Master of Arts degree In International Affairs from Oklahoma State University. He subsequently briefly worked as an analyst at the Pentagon in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

After leaving the Air Force in 1988, Chrys enrolled in the American University Washington College of Law to obtain his law degree. He graduated cum laude from American University with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1991, and was admitted to practice law in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia in 1992. In 2000, he obtained his LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center.

Chrys spent the past 26 years of his life practicing law at the respected McIntyre & Lemon law firm in Washington, D.C. He said many times that one of the best things that ever happened to him was the offer he received from Jim McIntyre for Chrys to join Jim in the practice of law. Jim was a great mentor to Chrys, and Chrys’s clients and colleagues came to describe him as a consummate professional and trusted legal counselor in a highly specialized field. He had long been counselor to the American Banking Association’s Office of Insurance Advocacy and before that, he and Jim were counselors for the American Bankers Insurance Association. Chrys served on numerous committees and was a regular panelist, presenter and moderator at conferences for banks, insurance companies, professionals, and trade organizations.

Because of his devotion to helping others, Chrys still made time to serve on the Board of Directors for the LGBTQ Victory Fund, and the Board of Trustees for the National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., and Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Chrys was Legal Counsel for The Gayly, an Oklahoma newspaper, and he supported numerous other organizations like The Trevor Project, Freedom to Marry, and the American Pops Orchestra. In 2015, with his nephew Michael and brother Jim, Chrys also co-founded Bridge To Renewables, a company now helping in the fight against climate change by connecting electric vehicles to renewable electricity in California.

He spent his “spare” vacation time more than once driving his elderly grandparents from the Panhandle of Texas to a small town in Missouri so they could revisit friends and places and fond memories of an earlier life. Chrys’s accomplishments are vast and impressive; however, the essence of Chrys Lemon was his ability to see the invisible people who just needed a little help, a small act of kindness, and the acknowledgement of their existence. Chrys served his country. He was a defender of democracy, fought against hate, and for justice and equal treatment in our nation.

One of the last highpoints of Chrys’s life was his trip to the Dona Ana Village in New Mexico with his good friend, Israel Chavez, where they had the privilege of touring the historic village with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Dona Ana is the oldest Colonia in Southern New Mexico. Because it is not feasible for these small communities to incorporate, there is little to no government assistance to help colonias like Don Ana to provide the most basic services such as sanitation, water, housing, or access to health care.

Chrys was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his twin sister, Robyn Lemon Sellers of Oklahoma City; brothers Del Lemon and wife Leslie of Austin, Texas, Jim Lemon and wife Anna of Vienna, Virginia, and Eli “Moque” Grayson of Tulsa, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews Michael and Jacqueline Lemon, Garry Rogers, Jeny Center, Julia Rogers, Diana Rogers Jaeger, Kevin Rogers and Ochi Dorjsuren; cousins Richard Smith, Marcus Lemon, and Martin Lemon; most special friend Jorge Docabo; and legions of other friends, colleagues, family members and even strangers whose lives Chrys touched with his kindness, generosity, and respect for human dignity. Chrysanthemum Blossoms Forever.

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A memorial service for Chrys will be held beginning at 2 o’clock p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at National City Christian Church, located at 5 Thomas Cir NW, Washington, DC 20005.

https://nationalcitycc.org/directions-parking/

The service will be live-streamed and can be accessed at https://youtube.com/c/FriendsofNationalCityChristianChurch.

In lieu of flowers (including chrysanthemums), those wanting to make a contribution to the non-profit Dona Ana Village Association mentioned above, in Chrys’s memory, can send donations via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/eaba095143c0/donaanavillage.

This obituary is available online at the website of Money & King Funeral Home and Cremation Services, at https://www.moneyandking.com/.

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  1. Chrys with his dad Bob Lemon, Grand Marshall during the 2013 OKC Pride Parade, with Robyn Lemon Sellers walking alongside carrying the Gay Pride flag. They are riding in Harold Watson’s fabulous red Thunderbird.

  2. (L-R) Chrys Lemon, Congressman Barney Frank, Bob Lemon and Eli Grayson at a Democratic fundraiser at the Skirvin Hotel. Photo provided by Robyn Lemon Sellers

  3. Chrys was always one of the kindest cadets to me in the USAFA Class of 1980. When our paths crossed later in our Air Force careers, his smile and kindness equally warmed my heart and soul. This world will miss you Chrys. I will miss you. God rallied the heavenly “troops” to render salute to you as you arrived in their embrace for having served “well and faithfully” in God’s worldly creation. I pray for your family and friends – that they feel you together in God’s compassionate embrace. Allison Hickey

  4. I feel so fortunate to have met Chrys through the Victory Fund, many many years ago, and privileged to have called him a friend. He was well-loved, respected and appreciated by so many. Wishing him peace.

  5. Chrys Lemon was unique. His smarts, his heart, his generosity, and his passion combined to produce good for others beyond parallel. I was a better person when I was around Chrys. We all were. My commitment today is that each week I will try to be Chrys-like to a friend or acquaintance in need of help, encouragement, or humor. We love you, Chrys. Charlie Richardson

  6. I am so grateful for my “cousin”/”uncle” Chrys who was always the best example of love and kindness. He never said an unkind thing to me and always supported and loved me for who I am. I am so grateful for his example, and all our memories together in DC, family reunions, and of course, the Golden Bee. No one can sing quite like Chrys. One of my favorite memories is when he greeted me on my first day at college in DC. His love and excitement and way of making everyone feel comfortable, even a nervous freshman like me, were so needed. So grateful for his love and the beautiful life he lived and the amazing memories he has left behind. He will always hold a special and strong place in my heart.

  7. I am completely shocked and so sad to hear this news! Chrys was such a talented person in every way, and he continued to use and develop his talents always. He was never afraid to defend all things good and fair. My sincere condolences and prayers go out to all of the family.

  8. Chrys was always a leader in the halls of Perryton High School. His presence will be sorely missed. God be near. Pam Jordan Blassingame-Class of ‘77.

  9. Tribute to Chrys Lemon and His Family by Otis Shearer

    I have known Chrys Lemon to be outstanding all of his life, but I learned more about him from the obituary and the tributes posted before mine. The Lemon family has impacted my parents and me all of my 82 years, and I can share some reasons why Chrys, his siblings and cousins have been so outstanding in their respective ways.
    In about 1939 my parents moved to Booker, Texas, a small town in the northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle. Chrys paternal grandmother, Fay Lemon, knocked on the Booker door of my parents to welcome them. She later invited them to her home for a meal. In less than a decade we moved from Booker.
    After my father’s service in World War II, he was returning to his former job in Kansas when he met by chance Chrys’ paternal grandfather. Their visit resulted in our moving back to Booker where my father worked for the Lemon bank and insurance agency for twenty years. Near the end of those years, I started my practice of law with the firm of Chrys’ father, Robert Lemon, in a nearby town. Neither of us ever left that law firm, resulting in a half century of our working together.
    Martin Lemon’s tribute addressed well some of the outstanding characteristics of the Lemon family. Fay Lemon was cultured and always well dressed. I had seen her look up words in a dictionary, and she spoke like a well-educated lady. When I once asked Robert what college his mother attended, I leaned that her formal education ended with the sixth grade when Fay’s mother died of the Spanish flu during World War I. Fay was the oldest child in her family and needed to help her father with her younger siblings.
    Robert Lemon, her older son, was innovative in his legal work and active in civic affairs. He also worked long hours, and Chrys’ mother, Mary Lou, deserves much credit for rearing him and his three siblings. After they were out of high school, she worked for our law firm. She was caring, intelligent, and loyal, and I valued her as a good friend.
    Mary Lou’s parents in their later years lived across the corner from the home of my parents in Booker, and they enjoyed the company of each other. I once visited their home to find Chrys stretched out on a couch, relaxed and clearly enjoying time with his maternal grandparents. I understand why he returned from long distance to drive them to visit Missouri relatives, as I learned from the obituary.

    Chrys’ parents and grandparents all had a significant role in Chrys becoming what he was and in accomplishing what he did.

  10. I had the joy of spending time with Chrys as a colleague and a friend. A favorite opportunity was grabbing breakfast usually three times a year at the NAIC meetings. He was also — obviously — a consummate professional. I will miss that twinkle in his eye and great sense of humor. This video was shot at a golf course in Kiawah Island just this past May before our round. After the video ends, Chrys was surprised how fast that gator moved! He will be missed so much.

    Thoughts, prayers and positive vibes from our house to yours. Tom Keepers

  11. The way Chris Lemon departed this earth will always be a mystery to me. Just when you think know someone, you realize how much you don’t.

    In the early 90’s, I was head of the Victory Fund. One day Major Denny Maust showed up at our offices one day to volunteer — he had just “retired” from the Air Force. A few months later, Denny told me of another USAF academy graduate in DC, a former“Warthog” pilot who was straight, but had invited him to a home-cooked dinner. I said, “Denny, straight men don’t fix dinner for gay guys.” Denny introduced us to Chrys, who had a law practice on 15th Street NW in downtown DC. Chrys and I grew up in West Texas, me in Matador and him in Perryton, some 180 miles apart, but considering the vast expanse of Texas, we were practically neighbors. We both learned early to drop “terminal g’s” from our speech, like “Darlin’.”

    At some point after we met, Chrys asked me to lunch, and we frequently met at Rothschild’s Cafeteria. It was a convenient location to meet Chrys, right around the corner from the Victory Fund headquarters and a couple blocks from his office. Rothschild had seen better days. I recall that we used our napkins as placemats — it was that bad. Regardless, Chrys and I endured many lunches together there as he struggled coming out out as a graduate of the Air Force Academy, having served as a pilot in the military, and then as a gay man.

    Months later, Chrys told me his parents were coming to DC and invited me to have dinner with them at America, a popular restaurant on the second floor overlooking Union Station. As dinner progressed, Chrys told his parents how I was a “gay activist” and role model. He mentioned the work of the Victory Fund. Then he said, “Mom and Dad, I am gay.” The table froze with tension. Chrys’ mother MaryLou cried for remainder of dinner, but his father (Bob) wanted “us” to file lawsuits related to gay rights. Over the years, I became close to Bob and MaryLou Lemon, as they were prolific donors to the Victory Fund and other organizations. I sent MaryLou books on having gay children and sent his father the latest news on lawsuits filed by Lambda, the ACLU and others.

    As Chrys became more comfortable being gay, he decided he wanted to do drag. He chooses an event at our house on 29th place as the venue, with its large deck overlooking a patio. When Chrys exited the bathroom in drag, I said, “You need help,” and asked a couple of friends to retreat to the restroom with Chrys to remove his makeup and construct a “do over.” Chrys asked if I could arrange for guys below to “catch him” as he jumped from the second floor. I said, “Absolutely not.” It sounded like he had already hit his head somewhere. Chrys wanted to make a grand appearance in drag, so he made his way to the second-floor deck. There with the sweep of hand carrying a red Solo cup of wine, he proceeded to douse the crowd below with wine.

    Of course, this did not endear Chrys to the legion of fans he was hoping for, but he loved the attention.

    Chrys eventually became our personal lawyer for the next 30 years, updating our wills and trusts. I remained close with his parents until they died, MaryLou (2002) and Bob (2016). Although Bob never got to sue anyone, he contributed to a lot of LGBT organizations, including the Victory Fund.

    Chrys continued this benevolence until his death in 2022. My fear is that Chrys won’t receive the fitting tribute he deserves. While his parent gave generously, I am sure not many people knew how much a gay son influenced them.

    A friend of Chrys’ at the Air Force Academy said the news of Chrys’ death spread quickly among its alumni. I hope that members of the Victory Fund celebrate his life and honor his passing in a similar fashion, too. Chrys was an iconic individual who made a difference in many ways.

    Congressman Barney Frank told me once, “You never know what time it is in someone’s life.” I regret not know what “time it was” in Chrys’ life. The grief is not just mine, but a collective grief of many people at the Victory Fund who did work supported by Chrys’s generosity, and the contributions from his father and mother. They will be missed.

    We are all richer for the experience of knowing them.

    William Waybourn

  12. It was so sad to hear of Chrys’s passing. He was such an inspiration to so many. Even though we weren’t close in the last few years we did touch base every once in awhile and when I heard from Chrys it always made my day better. May he Rest In Peace knowing he was both respected and loved by so many.

  13. [Originally posted by Jorge Docabo on Facebook on August 31 at 8:23 PM]

    As many of you know, my other half, best friend, and soulmate, Chrys Lemon, passed away on Saturday, August 27. Those of us who have been touched by his love, knew how extraordinary he was. His heart was enormous, his kindness endless, his presence overwhelming. He has always been there to comfort us, to give us beyond he could give, to share with us anything he knew could help us. I miss so much his warm smile, his gorgeous sky-blue eyes, his warm embraces, and kind words.

    There is a huge void in my soul that I cannot express with words. I know that I will be ok, but it will take time to heal, one day at a time. He will always be in the center of my heart. I know that, although his body is no longer here, his amazing soul is still around us. He is in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the drink we drink. He is in us, and we are in him, forever.

    When I feel excited with happiness or down with sadness, I will look into the sky, and look for his bright blue eyes, and remember him saying his usual, “Hola blossom, it is a beautiful day, wanna go out and enjoy the day?”, and I will put everything aside for a while, and smile back with excitement to meet with him again.

    Please pray for the Lemon family to find peace through these very hard times, and for Chrys to find the glory he very well deserves.

    Love you Chrys forever!

    Jorge

  14. I met Chrys through Jorge and enjoyed the times we spent together. He will be forever remembered. Chrys and Jorge we are here for you.

  15. My Family grew up next door to the Lemon’s in Perryton, Texas. We had such fun as neighbors and were great friends! I remember when Chrys and Robyn were born. Mary Lou suddenly had four children. She would call me to come over to help her and babysit when I was eight years old! I became Del, Jim, Robyn and Chrys Lemon’s babysitter for years to come and continued until I graduated from High School. Chrys, from a very young age was “a man among men”! Smart, handsome, gentle, talented, a leader, a musician, compassionate, loved by his peers, a wonderful sense of humor, loved his family, a caregiver and an achiever in every regard! I am so proud that I had the privilege of knowing him from the time he was born until he became an adult! Chrys was passionate about everything he got involved in and always completed his tasks! My memories of Chrys and his family involve so much history! I am blessed that I had the honor of being in his presence! Chrys never wavered and committed himself “for the greater good”! I hold Chrys’s family very near to my heart! My heartfelt love for each of them, especially, Del, Jim and Robyn! I send you my love and wish you peace! Julie Cunningham Ellis

  16. Q: What 3 words best describe Chrys and why?

    A: Love, generosity and passion. Whether it was giving to charities, or helping others who just needed a friend, Chrys was your Man! He always made me smile, drove me to be a better person, and encouraged me to be an ally and advocate for gay rights. Thank you for the warmth and love you brought to my life.

    Carrie and Tony

  17. i”m Jeff Klein. I knew Chrys about 15 years and retained him when at BB&T Insurance. He was kind enough when I left BB&T to offer me an Of counsel position with his firm and I accepted, among several offers. I did so, because he was a great guy, full of life and fun and enjoyed working with him in public life, in the industry and the NAIC. I especially enjoyed some of our dinners while traveling with him, we had a great time; most recently, during his 65 birthday dinner in December in San Diego, as we watched the airplanes set for landing, right outside the restaurant Mister A’s. Until his death, he still talked about that night with Kevin McKechnie, Paul Hanley, Arshawn Teymoorian and me. I will also miss Chrys’ great descriptions of his hometown Perryton and the Texas Panhandle and his frequent niceties about his great twin sister Robyn, and his brothers. He was an excellent attorney, extremely smart and hardworking and a good instinct for the political as well. I miss him. Finally, I spoke with him over the summer, most recently he called me on August 16 when my dear 11 year old orange tabby Cat, Caramel, died and he understood how much I loved her and it was a nice gesture, even though he was not feeling well. the best to his family and friends. Jeff Klein

  18. All of my life, I’ve looked forward to any occasion when I could spend time with my cousin, Chrys. Bright, talented, insightful, hilariously funny and fun-loving, Chrys was blessed with many great qualities; but it was the way he chose to apply his talents that made him beloved, so worthy of admiration and such a joy to be with. Chrys cared deeply about people. He wanted to understand. He was quick to offer help. He advocated for the disadvantaged, the mistreated, the exploited. What a worthwhile person.
    There’s a long, long list of ways my generation of the Lemon family was exceptionally blessed. The six Lemons of my generation were exposed to so many great examples of what it means to be diligent, forward-thinking, responsible, thoughtful, loving people. Our parents and grandparents sought the best in themselves and to learn from the best in others. They also had a wonderfully healthy capacity to laugh at themselves.
    None of us soaked up those examples, those lessons more fully than Chrys.
    Chrys seemed to be good at just about everything—even the things he didn’t like. We all worked on the family farm northwest of Booker from time to time. Chrys hated farm work. We all suspected he tried to attend as many summer Boy Scout camps as possible so he could avoid the farm. But he was a good farmhand, a hard worker. When I was 13, he patiently taught me how to plough a field with our old International 1068 tractor with the hot, dusty unairconditioned cab and the awkward turning brakes. Learning from him was fun. I didn’t love farm work either, but working alongside Chrys made it a lot better.
    I remember how much my Dad admired Chrys, especially his resilience and determination. I loved listening to Marcus and my Dad—both pilots—talking with Chrys about the jets he was learning to fly in the Air Force. The depth of his knowledge about those amazing planes was so impressive, yet Chrys spoke in such a humble way.
    My family was deeply proud when he graduated from the Air Force Academy. He was a talented tenor and sang in the Academy choir. I’ll never forget his performance with the choir during graduation weekend. The finale was The Youngbloods 1967 hit “Get Together.” The choir filed off the stage singing “Come on people now! Smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now!” To me, that song really expressed what Chrys was all about. And there he was in his dress uniform with his white gloves, singing those lyrics, shaking hands in the audience and finding his way to my beaming Uncle Robert and Aunt Mary. Chrys was never more in his element.
    And I have to laugh every time I think of his skit, 25 years later, with my Uncle Robert at a family reunion. He dressed up in one of my Grandmother Lemon’s outfits with the matching pink plaid skirt and blazer, hilariously imitating her speech, mannerisms and spirit. He kept calling Grandpa (played by Uncle Robert) “dearie!” We laughed ourselves silly.
    Chrys was so very kind and loving to my children–always interested in their lives and curious about the people they were growing up to be. He’d fly into Chicago from DC for a weekend just to play with little Gabe and his plastic dinosaurs, or to attend one of Victoria’s recitals. He’d listen to my children with an expression that left no doubt they had his full, loving attention. What a gift!
    And for me, during one of the darkest, most challenging times in my own life, Chrys was enormously, tenaciously helpful. He demonstrated faith in me at a time when I was struggling to find faith in myself. For this also, I am forever grateful.
    It’s so hard to say goodbye to him. I will always be deeply thankful to have known and received the wisdom, the good humor, the presence and the love of my dear cousin, Chrys.

  19. Loving, generous, funny, smart, social, authentic, musical, articulate, informed, opinionated, handsome, muscular, fit – a great catch for his special friend Jorge – a great friend to many many, an unreplaceable loss to family m, friends, social justice, an md the whole world.
    Nathaniel Batchelder

  20. When I think of Chrys, I remember someone who was always happy. I remember someone who always brought a smile to my face. I remember someone who always had a great story to share. And I remember someone who I looked up to as a truly great human-being. Rest in peace Chrys – our family will forever miss you.

    Love you.

  21. When I think of Chrys, I remember someone who was always happy. I remember someone who always brought a smile to my face. I remember someone who always had a great story to share. And I remember someone who I looked up to as a truly great human-being. Rest in peace Chrys – our family will forever miss you.

    Love you.

  22. I sang with Chrys in the Congressional Chorus for many years. He was such a kind and funny man. He made every rehearsal and concert we were in together fun and meaningful. I will miss him as will any chorus member who knew him.

  23. 
    By the spring of 1982 Leslie and I had been in Austin for almost two years. At the same time my youngest brother–US Air Force Academy graduate Chrys D. Lemon–was stationed at nearby Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, as an instructor pilot for the T-38 Talon two-seat twin jet supersonic fighter. One Friday evening Chris called our apartment and left a message, that if I could be at Randolph the next morning, there was a cancellation on one of the T-38 Talon simulators, and we could have an early lunch then “go up” for a simulated flight..

    I was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of my US Air Force brother teaching me to fly (and land) a supersonic jet aircraft, without ever departing mother earth.

    However there was one slight issue: I would have to take off work. Austin was booming, ironworkers were getting paid double time on weekends ($27/hr) and I was making more money than at any time in my life. So I called Chrys back, told him my work situation and Chrys asked if it would cause me to lose my job. I said, “probably not,” to which which the young fighter pilot replied, “That’s wonderful, Del, you can buy lunch!”

    Arriving the next morning at the Randolph AFB Main Gate I barely recognized my own brother. Except for one Thanksgiving in Perryton, I hadn’t seen Chrys since he graduated from the Academy in 1980. Now chiseled by six years of USAF training and decked out in his flight suit, to me my kid brother looked straight out of central casting.

    After lunch Chrys escorted us to a spacious hangar and showed me his workspace, which consisted of the simulator next to an actual T-38.

    For the next 90 minutes Chrys conducted a tutorial on how to safely “fly”–and land–a supersonic jet aircraft simulator. For some reason I recalled two phrases from the “Air Force Song” that we learned by heart back in in Elementary School (along with “Anchors Aweigh”, “As Those Caissons Go Rolling Along”, and “The Halls of Montezuma”): “Off we go into the wild blue yonder,” and, “Keep the wings level and true.”

    Chrys explained that the simulator controller (student pilot) sat at a console about 40 feet away from the simulator cockpits, which moved in response to program and stick imputs. He said the piston-driven hydraulic cylinders moved the cockpit’s platform, with each piston capable of extending quickly in any direction as much as five and a half feet.

    As I recall most of the simulator flight was mostly uneventful, which was the goal. Once “aloft” I remember Chrys telling me, “OK, Del, you are now flying the airplane.” After a third pass over the airfield, Chrys lined me up for final approach, which looked like a 4-lane highway without any cars

    Bringing it in Chrys spoke in reassuring tones…. “sweet and smooth, brother”….”that’s plenty of flare”…”you got this, pilot” ….steady… may be just a little hot….”now lay it down like a blanket…”

    I don’t recall much after that other than perhaps some chimes ringing from the simulator and Chrys saying something to the effect of, “That’s why we train with simulators, Del. We’ve all done it. That’s how we learn.”

  24. By the spring of 1982 Leslie and I had been in Austin for almost two years. At the same time my youngest brother–US Air Force Academy graduate Chrys D. Lemon–was stationed at nearby Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, as an instructor pilot for the T-38 Talon two-seat twin jet supersonic fighter. One Friday evening Chrys called our apartment and left a message, that if I could be at Randolph the next morning, there was a cancellation on one of the T-38 simulators, we could have an early lunch then “go up” for a simulated flight..

    I was absolutely thrilled at the prospect of my US Air Force brother teaching me to fly (and land) a supersonic jet aircraft, without ever departing mother earth.

    However there was one slight issue: I would have to take off work. Austin was booming, ironworkers were getting paid double time on weekends ($27/hr) and I was making more money than at any time in my life. So I called Chrys back, told him my work situation and Chrys asked if it would cause me to lose my job. I said, “probably not,” to which the young fighter pilot replied, “That’s wonderful, Del, you can buy lunch!”

    Arriving the next morning at the Randolph AFB Main Gate I barely recognized my own brother. Except for one Thanksgiving in Perryton, I hadn’t seen Chrys since he graduated from the Academy in 1980. Now chiseled by six years of USAF training and decked out in his flight suit, to me my kid brother looked straight out of central casting.

    After lunch Chrys escorted us to a spacious hangar and showed me his workspace, which consisted of the simulator next to an actual T-38.

    For the next 90 minutes Chrys conducted a tutorial on how to safely fly–and land–a supersonic jet aircraft. For some reason I recalled two phrases from the “Air Force Song” that we learned by heart back in in Elementary School (along with “Anchors Aweigh”, “As Those Caissons Go Rolling Along”, and “The Halls of Montezuma”): “Off we go into the wild blue yonder,” and, “Keep the wings level and true.”

    Chrys explained that the simulator controller (student pilot) sat at a console about 40 feet away from the simulator cockpits, which moved in response to program and stick imputs. He said the piston-driven hydraulic cylinders moved the cockpit’s platform, with each piston capable of extending quickly in any direction as much as five and a half feet.

    As I recall the simulator flight was uneventful, which was the goal. Once “aloft” I remember Chrys telling me, “OK, Del, you are now flying the airplane.” After a third pass over the airfield, Chrys lined me up for final approach, which to me looked like a 4-lane highway without any cars.

    Chrys spoke in reassuring tones…. “sweet and smooth, brother”….”that’s plenty of flare”…”you got this, pilot” ….steady… may be just a little hot….”now lay it down like a blanket…”

    I don’t recall much after that other than possibly some chimes sounding from the simulator and Chrys saying something to the effect of, “That’s why we use simulators, Del. We’ve all done it. That’s how we learn.”

  25. Q: What 3 words best describe Chrys and why?

    A: Gentleness, wit and assertiveness best describe our good friend Chrys. He made sure he treated everyone gently respecting his or her dignity. He was very witty, quality that I enjoyed in him. On the other hand he was assertive, always saying it like it is. Chrys, I miss knowing that you’re around.

  26. During his career as an instructor pilot in the US Air Force, and later as a Washington DC attorney, Chrys undoubtedly would have scoffed at the notion of anyone describing his routine acts of kindness and generosity toward those who needed it the most as “saintly”. However, as it became so apparent over the years to family and friends who knew him best, it undeniably was entrenched into Chrys’s very ethos that as humans not only were we “endowed by Our Creator with basic human rights”, we were also charged with responsibilty and obligation to help out those of our fellow humans lacking the basic dignities most of us take for granted. Indeed, to Chrys, we each were our brother’s keeper.

    During his lifetime on this earth just short of 65 years, Chrys Lemon did so much more than just talk the talk. He backed up his beliefs with action. And his checkbook. Yes, Chrys enjoyed life and lived it to the hilt. But as his many friends and family came to learn of and admire so much, he truly lived his time here on earth in accordance to the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew: “As you do unto the least of these my brethren, so you do unto me.”

    And to those of us in his immediate family it was not a surprise that aviation would be an integral part of his career path. Chrys took his first ride in an airplane at age 3. Both of his parents were licensed pilots who made frequent business trips in an airplane they owned for their law firm in Perryton. In 1976 Chrys, an honor graduate, applied for and received a Congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. But when Chrys was age nine, years before he enrolled in the Academy, he observed as his mother employed her piloting skills to render aid to a Cuban family whose father had been incarcerated for years as a political prisoner.

    And it had a profound effect on Chrys.

    In 1966 the First Christian Church in Perryton sponsored the Oliva family–Juan, Mrs. Oliva, Johnny and Barbara–whose father had been incarcerated by the Castros. During his imprisonment Juan developed gangrene in his right foot and half of it was amputated, requiring him to walk with a limp, unable to walk or stand for long periods of time.

    (Note: The following letter, excerpted here, was written in 2002, by Barbara Oliva, to Bob Lemon and family, following the death of our mother, Mary Lou.)

    “Dear Lemon Family,

    “Dedicated to our beloved Mary Lou Lemon and all she did for our family.”

    “We were very saddened when we heard the news of our beloved Mary Lou. Mary Lou helped my father recover normal function of his half foot, infected by gangrene, driving my father to a foot specialist in Amarillo, where he was fitted with a prosthesis. The prosthesis did not fit properly and Mary Lou would ask my Father, “Are you OK Juan?” And he would respond, “Me no fine.” She did everything in her power, and God’s, to make it fine.

    “Mary Lou did some researching and she found a specialist 200 miles away in Oklahoma City. She flew my father in her private plane to Oklahoma City for appointments with a Dr. Stablisher. After several trips Dr. Stablisher was able to fit my father with the proper prosthesis.

    “My father was able to function normally thereafter. He was able to get a full time job with the schools doing custodial work. After six years we moved to Amarillo where my father, mother and Johnny got jobs at Amarillo College. They were able to buy a beautiful brick house and several rent properties. They are now financially stable.

    “We thank God and Mrs. Lemon and her caring love and family support. May God bless her in Heaven.”

    Sincerely yours,

    Barbara Oliva

  27. During his career as an instructor pilot in the US Air Force, and later as a Washington DC attorney, Chrys undoubtedly would have scoffed at the notion of anyone describing his routine acts of kindness and generosity toward those who needed it the most as “saintly”. However, as it became so apparent over the years to family and friends who knew him best, it undeniably was entrenched into Chrys’s very ethos that as humans not only were we “endowed by Our Creator with inalienable human rights”, we were also charged with responsibilty and obligation to help out those of our fellow humans lacking the basic dignities most of us take for granted. Indeed, to Chrys, we each were our brother’s keeper.

    During his lifetime on this earth, just short of 65 years, Chrys Lemon did so much more than just talk the talk. He backed up his beliefs with action. And his checkbook. Yes, Chrys enjoyed life and lived it to the hilt. But as his many friends and family came to learn of and admire so much, he truly lived his time here on earth in accordance to the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew: “As you do unto the least of these my brethren, so you do unto me.”

    And to those of us in his immediate family it was not a surprise that aviation would be an integral part of his career path. Chrys took his first ride in an airplane at age 3. Both of his parents were licensed pilots who made frequent business trips in an airplane they owned for their law firm in Perryton. In 1976 Chrys, an honor graduate, applied for and received a Congressional appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. But when Chrys was age nine, years before he enrolled in the Academy, he observed as his mother employed her piloting skills to render aid to a Cuban family whose father had been incarcerated for years as a political prisoner.

    And it had a profound effect on Chrys.

    In 1966 the First Christian Church in Perryton sponsored the Oliva family–Juan, Mrs. Oliva, Johnny and Barbara–whose father had been incarcerated by the Castros. During his imprisonment Juan developed gangrene in his right foot and half of it was amputated, requiring him to walk with a limp, unable to walk or stand for long periods of time.

    (Note: The following letter, excerpted here, was written in 2002, by Barbara Oliva, to Bob Lemon and family, following the death of our mother, Mary Lou.)

    “Dear Lemon Family,

    “Dedicated to our beloved Mary Lou Lemon and all she did for our family.”

    “We were very saddened when we heard the news of our beloved Mary Lou. Mary Lou helped my father recover normal function of his half foot, infected by gangrene, driving my father to a foot specialist in Amarillo, where he was fitted with a prosthesis. The prosthesis did not fit properly and Mary Lou would ask my Father, “Are you OK Juan?” And he would respond, “Me no fine.” She did everything in her power, and God’s, to make it fine.

    “Mary Lou did some researching and she found a specialist 200 miles away in Oklahoma City. She flew my father in her private plane to Oklahoma City for appointments with a Dr. Stablisher. After several trips Dr. Stablisher was able to fit my father with the proper prosthesis.

    “My father was able to function normally thereafter. He was able to get a full time job with the schools doing custodial work. After six years we moved to Amarillo where my father, mother and Johnny got jobs at Amarillo College. They were able to buy a beautiful brick house and several rent properties. They are now financially stable.

    “We thank God and Mrs. Lemon and her caring love and family support. May God bless her in Heaven.”

    Sincerely yours,

    Barbara Oliva

  28. Chrys, standing

    Penrose Room at Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs
    October 5, 2012
    (Happy 60th Leslie!)

    Around the table, L to R

    Richard Smith, Robyn Sellers, Chrys Lemon, Jeff Smith, Moque Grayson, Jorge Docabo, Jim Lemon, Anna Lemon, Bob Lemon, Leslie Lemon

  29. The Golden Bee
    October 2018

    “Once upon a time there was a tavern…”

    (Left to right)
    Jim Lemon, Jorge Docabo, Leslie Lemon, Chrys Lemon, Del Lemon, Robyn Lemon Sellers, Piano Man, Susan Neely, Michael Lemon, Lucy Cavicchia, Anna Lemon

  30. White Christmas
    Last Lemon family Christmas in Perryton
    December 2000

    (L to R)

    Eli Moque Grayson, Del Lemon, Jim Lemon, Mary Lou Lemon, Chrys Lemon, Robyn Lemon Sellers, Uncle Jimmy Smith (photo by Leslie Lemon)

  31. Always dapper, caring and upbeat, Chrys had a warm smile for anyone in his vicinity. His big heart and thoughtfulness were his most endearing qualities, and his loss is tremendous to his wide-ranging professional and personal communities. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they heal from the tragedy of a beautiful life ended much too soon. I know Chrys is in a better place surrounded by love and light. He will forever be thought of fondly and missed greatly.


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