Jean Lyons

Jean L. Lyons, 84, of Claysville, died at 4:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2014 in Hayes, Va. while under the care of her daughter, Connie Rienke and her family, following a short illness.She was born July 11, 1929 in Dormont, Pa. a daughter of the late Thomas Charles and Anne Marrow McDermott and had resided in the Washington area prior to moving to the McGuffey School District in 1953, and then to Claysville, where she had resided since1964.Mrs. Lyons was a member of the Claysville United Methodist Church where she was a member of the United Methodist Women and a volunteer with the church truck stop ministry.She was also an active volunteer with her late husband at Camp Variety, for handicapped children in Marshall Twp.Mrs. Lyons was a member of the Claysville Ladies Card Club and the American Legion Auxiliary.She enjoyed camping, traveling across the country with her family and visiting Mt. Rushmore.Mrs. Lyons was a 1947 graduate of the former Dormont High School, and graduated from Penn State University in 1951 with a Bachelor's degree in dietary education.She began her involvement with McGuffey School District as a volunteer at the former Blaine-Buffalo Elementary School assisting her handicapped son, who became the first handicapped child to graduate from McGuffey High School in 1980. She continued as an employee of the school district as an assistant to the dietician, and later became the cafeteria manager, for a total of 12 years prior to retiring in 1985.On December 23, 1950 she married Richard Duane Lyons who died May 7, 2013.Surviving are three daughters, Kathy Shaner, companion of Larry Grimm of Washington, Deborah, wife of Bill Kennedy of New Cumberland and Connie Rienke of Yorktown, Va.; a son, Richard D. Lyons, Jr., husband of Beverly Lyons of Cambridge, Oh.; 11 grandchildren, Jeremy, Sabrina, Joshua and Zachariah Shaner, Diana Simmons, Jean McFarland, Mandy Lyons, Jackie Diggs, Stephanie McGowan, Jonna Watlet and Sarah Kennedy; 13 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.Deceased in addition to her parents and husband are a son, John T. Lyons who died in 1993; a brother, Thomas C. McDermott, Jr.; two sisters, her twin sister, Anne Stottlemyer and Margaret Hutchison.The family suggests memorial contributions be made to either to the Claysville U.M. Church or the Spina Bifida Association.