Edwin Lyon

EDWIN G. LYON Edwin G. Lyon, 89, former teacher, principal and superintendent of schools at Neodesha died Monday, November 19, 2007 at the Wilson County Hospital, Neodesha, Kansas. Edwin Garth Lyon Jack was born on July 13, 1918 in Eureka, Kansas, the son of Luther Lyon and Mary Martha Stuber Lyon. He grew up on a farm outside of Climax, Kansas in Greenwood County. He graduated from Climax High School in 1935 in the midst of the Great Depression. He worked on farms for two years to save enough money to start classes at Chanute Junior College. Graduating from Chanute Junior College in 1937, he accepted a teaching position in a rural school in the Rush County school district, 10 miles east of Chanute. He was offered another years work, but thought he didnt like teaching. Instead, he returned to Chanute to work at a funeral home where hed been empolyed while attending junior college. At the funeral home he worked as an embalming apprentice, ambulance and hearse driver. In 1941, World War II was on the horizon and prior to being drafted, Lyon enlisted in the U.S. NavyCoast Guard. He initially served on river patrols along the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers, and was then assigned to a Navy destroyer escort ship in the South Pacific. The ship provided troop support for conflicts from New Guinea to the Philippines. He was discharged from his military service in June, 1946 and returned to Kansas. In 1943, prior to shipping out overseas, Lyon married Lavera June Worley, a rural Chanute, Kansas girl. He attended the former Kansas State Teachers College on the G.I. bill, he changed his mind about teaching. Graduating in 1948, after earning a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Education degrees, he accepted a classroom position in the Osawatomie, Kansas school system. After two years, he was offered a principals position that he held for two years. In June, 1954, he accepted a principals position at the Neodesha High School, a post that he held for 17 years. In 1971, Lyon was named Superintendent of the Neodesha USD 461 school systems. He was Superintendent for 12 years until his retirement in 1983. Lyon was active in community organizations; a member of the United Methodist Church of Neodesha; the Masonic Lodge of Climax; the Neodesha Rotary Club; the Order of Eastern Star; and the American Legion. During his career in education, he was active and held leadership positions in the Kansas Secondary Prinicpals Association; State School Administrators Association. He was a Board Member of the New Beginnings Enterprises for 9 years. Edwin is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lavera J. Lyon of Neodesha, Kansas; one sister, Martha Jo Brown of Wichita, Kansas; three children, Lucinda Kay Cindy and her husband, James E. Hubbard of Fort Collins, Colorado; Brian Lyon and his wife, Kathleen of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Julie and her husband, Steve Caspers of Topeka, Kansas; five grandchildren, Sherri Hubbard of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Amy and Ty Nordic of Windsor, Colorado; Eddy Lyon of Austin, Texas; Emily and Justin Emerick of Provo, Utah; and Briana and Brogan Caspers of Topeka, Kansas; and four great grandchildren, Shaylah, Stetson, Slade and Shanaye Nordic of Windsor, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation hours for Edwin will be held on Thursday, November 22, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends at the Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel. Funeral services for Edwin G. Lyon will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 23, 2007 at the United Methodist Church, Neodesha, Kansas with Pastors Kris Brinlee of the United Methodist Church and Dave Cheshier of Christs Church officiating. Burial will follow at the Neodesha City Cemetery. The family has suggested memorial contributions to the NHS Alumni Association, Scholarship Fund or the United Methodist Church, Neodesha, Kansas. Memorials may be left with the funeral home.