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Jean L. Lyons

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McGuffey School District retiree

Jean L. Lyons, 84, of Claysville, died at 4 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, a daughter of the late Thomas Charles and Anne Marrow McDermott and resided in the Washington area prior to moving to McGuffey School District in 1953, and then to Claysville, where she resided since 1964.

Mrs. Lyons was a member of Claysville United Methodist Church, where she was a member of United Methodist Women and a volunteer with the church truckstop ministry.

She was also an active volunteer with her late husband at Camp Variety for handicapped children in Marshall Township.

Mrs. Lyons was a member of Claysville Ladies Card Club and 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 27, 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, Ohio; 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; and 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.

Friends will be received from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in Claysville United Methodist Church, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, February 4, with the Rev. Ricco Vespa officiating and the Rev. G.M. Sayer (Ret.) assisting. Interment will follow in Claysville Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to either Claysville United Methodist Church or Spina Bifida Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.

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