- Date Of Birth: March 23, 1948
- Date Of Death: February 4, 2013
- State: Michigan
Lyal Leon Lauth III, husband, father, photographer, mentor, and friend to many left to walk other paths on February 2, 2013. The snow was gently falling all day outside his bedroom window whitening the woods and paths he so loved. His struggles with congestive heart failure are over.In his last hours, Lyal was surrounded by loved ones: his wife, Patricia; mother, Melva Geneva Lauth of Bridgman, Michigan; sister, Cynthia and Bill Minnear of Batavia, Illinois; his canine friends, Snowy and Enna; the cat, Psycho; and some of his many close friends. He had spoken recently to his loving son, Lyal L. “Jim” Lauth IV and granddaughter, Bethany Elaine Lauth who live in Carmichael, California. He also leaves behind his mother-in-law, Mary Davey of Michigan City, Indiana.
Lyal was preceded in death by his father, Lyal Jr., his brother Donald, and his first wife, Laura.Lyal was born March 23, 1948 in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois to Lyal L. and Melva Geneva (Mueller) Lauth Jr. He grew up in Joliet, Illinois, graduating from Joliet Township High School East Campus in 1966. He moved to Santa Barbara, California to attend the Brooks Institute of Photography and after graduating in 1970, he landed a job in Springfield, Illinois. It soon became apparent that he wanted something more and he moved back to Joliet to begin working as a newspaper photographer at the Aurora Beacon and the Joliet Herald News. After many memorable assignments and capers, including getting pictures after becoming a stow-a-way in an ambulance headed to the Joliet Prison during a hostage situation, he decided to go into business for himself. He became a commercial photographer and his business, Lyal Lauth Photography, LTD was a success.
He married Laura Davis on November 29, 1969 and they had a son, Lyal IV. On August 25, 1983 Lyal married Patricia Condon in Hyde Park, Illinois. They lived in the Chicago area before moving to Michiana Shores, Indiana where Lyal served as President of the Town Council. They made their home in Harbert, Michigan for the last 10 years.Lyal had been an avid cyclist. He was always puttering on some project whether it was rehabbing, chopping wood or restoring an old 1965 Porsche 356 coupe. Lyal also enjoyed working on computer projects such as digital imaging/photoshop and designing web sites.
His presence will be missed by all.
