Long time Fort Lauderdale bartender John Lyons passed away, in the early morning hours of Monday, July 11, 2011, after a 7 week battle with lung and bone cancer.

Lyons, affectionately, known as John ‘Mary’ Lyons was a 33 year resident of Broward County and tended bar at such former hotspots as Bus Stop, Everglades bar, Haymarket and 825.

For the last 12 years he worked at Mona’s bar on East Sunrise Boulevard.
A Navy Vetern Lyons was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

Lyons was diagnosed with cancer seven weeks ago. In June Mona’s proprietor and a good friend of Lyons threw a retirement party for Lyons at the bar. Hundreds of people turned out for the event and party goers left behind $9,000 for his retirement.

“You knew John by the way he dressed”, said Schultz, “always a long sleeved shirt and vest. John was the type of person that you just had to love. His heart was as big as he was.”

A private Navy service will be held for Lyons at the National Cemetery in Lake Worth. In honor of Lyons, A Celebration of Life will be held at Mona’s Bar on August 25th, which would have been John Lyons 62nd birthday.