Helen Joy Lyon's Obituary
On April 15, 2025 Helen Lyon, known to so many as grandma, passed from this life at the age of 95 in Dallas, Texas.
Helen was born on October 18th, 1929 in Dallas, Texas to Louis Arthur and Lillie Mae Vandiver. Growing up she remembers living in the old “Mötley house” in Mesquite, which was located where Eastfield College is now. She picked cotton and helped with other chores on the farm. She grew up poor with her mother making a lot of her clothes from flour sacks, But she never realized they were poor. She was happy being the middle child of five children. She grew up and started working at 14 as a soda jerk at Walgreens serving ice cream. Then she worked at Southwestern Bell telephone where she met the man she would marry, Robert R Lyon. They married on May 14, 1948 and were happily married for 50 years until his passing in 1998.
In the time they were married, Helen became a bank teller and for a while a head teller And kept that profession until she retired.
Helen was a wonderful Christian mother to three children, always making sure they were in church. She loved them so much! There was always laughter in the house. Between her and her husband, they had a really good sense of humor that carried onto their children. She loved flowers and working outside in her garden where she always had vegetables for the grandchildren to help her pick or to check for ripe tomatoes. There were other things she enjoyed, but once she said if she couldn’t get outside and work in her yard, it would be just terrible.
Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert “Bob” Lyon, her parents, Arthur and Lillie Vandiver, her brother J,T. Vandiver, and her sister Marzelle Choate.
She Is survived by her sister, Margaret Ann Sessions of Richardson, her brother Donnie Vandiver of Ennis, Children, David Lyon and wife Susan of Richardson, Richard Lyon and wife Sandra of Garland, Donna Smalling and husband Brent of Mesquite. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren;
Chris Lyon, Jeremy Lyon and wife Melissa, Joy Lyon, April Lyon, and husband Santos,Tasha Boulware And husband, Jason, Richard Lyon, Jr and wife Felicia, Glen Pugh and wife Mieka, Melinda Brummett and husband Danny, Joann Vicory And husband, Charles, Angela Markwood and husband, Brad, Stephanie O’Hare, and husband, Ryan, Mandy Smalling, and Bobby Smalling.
She also leaves behind 21 cherished, great grandchildren, and three sweet little great great grandchildren
Helen loved her church family so much too. When she didn’t feel like getting out, she still wanted to be with her church family and friends. In the end, she was tired and was so ”ready to see Jesus”.❤️
What’s your fondest memory of Helen?
What’s a lesson you learned from Helen?
Share a story where Helen's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Helen you’ll never forget.
How did Helen make you smile?