The Lyons Funeral Home was founded by William H. Lyons, known locally as “Billy,” a respected businessman in Thomaston since the age of 14 when he started the Lyons Tea company. He sold tea, coffee, spices, extracts, baking soda and cocoa door-to-door out of a horse drawn wagon in Thomaston and the surrounding communities.

In 1901, he entered a partnership with Thomas H. Brown. Their business included the sale of tea, coffee and ice cream. Brown was also a mortician and Lyons joined him in that, too, thus starting his career in the funeral business.