July 2, 1927 – May 25, 2026
Marjorie Lyons (Wayjaanimigaabiwik) passed away peacefully at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Monday, May 25, 2026, with family by her side.
Margie was born in Rainy River First Nations on July 2, 1927, to John and Agnes Speaker. In her early years, she lived in her community of Manitou Rapids, later leaving home when she married her husband Richard. Together they lived in Eva Lake, Atikokan, Sapawe, and finally settling in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Margie was a loving Mother to her family. She was a wonderful cook and baker, and her family always looked forward to the special dinners she prepared for family gatherings. She was a traditional woman, and knowledge holder who steadily resisted mainstream ways taking great pride in her culture and fluency in her language. She loved harvesting wild rice, berry-picking, creating traditional regalia for family and friends. She was a talented artisan: sewing star blankets, tipis, beadwork, creating buckskin garments. She especially enjoyed moccasin-making demonstrations to youth and volunteered her time with the local Creighton youth centre for many years.
Throughout her long life of 98 years, Margie carried and shared teachings with the many people whose lives she touched. She loved to travel, spend time with her sisters and extended family in her home community, and be with her powwow family. She also assisted her husband, Richard, in sharing cultural teachings particularly in the revitalization of Anishinaabe dancing and singing in the Thunder Bay area.
Margie will be deeply missed by her daughters, Verna Legarde and Kathy Lyons; traditional adopted son Mark Sault; her sister Dorothy Medicine; grandchildren Keri (Patrick), Jeffery, Fawn, Nathan, Forrest, Fern, Kara (Ashley), and Jaden; great-grandchildren Matthew, Caitlin, Rylee (Aws), Chaske, Paris, Thai, Ryder, Tristan, Landen, Wyatt, Daniel, Michael, Marissa, and Miyosiw; great-great-grandchildren Grayson and Kian. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
She was predeceased by her parents Agnes and John Speaker; her husband, Dr. Richard Lyons; sons Richard Jr. and Brian Lyons; great-grandson Jaelyn Lyons; son-in-law Lindsay Legarde; and siblings Anne Wilson and Johnny Speaker Jr.
A Traditional wake will be held at the Manitou Rapids Gymnasium, Rainy River First Nations, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, beginning at 4:00 p.m followed by a Traditional Funeral Service commencing on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Pallbearers will be Chris Medicine, Jaden Beck, Dakota Medicine, Marty Wilson, Rhain Mainville, and Quentin Mosher.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the WESTFORT CHAPEL, 420 West Gore Street, Thunder Bay.
