Lyon, Bess (1873-1961)

LYON, BUTLER

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 5/2/2015 at 15:58:41

Daily Freeman Journal, Friday, February 10, 1961

Funeral services for Miss Bess Lyon, 87, veteran teacher, historian and author, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Foster funeral home with the Rev. E. G. Brinkmeyer officiating. Burial will be in Graceland cemetery.

Miss Lyon died suddenly yesterday morning at her home, 708 Boone St. She had just returned to her home the preceding day from the Hamilton county hospital after having been a medical patient there for the past two weeks.

Bess Lyon, daughter of Jotham N. and Mary E. Lyon, was born on the Lyon family farm northeast of Webster City on Oct. 13, 1873. She was reared and educated in Webster City, being graduated in 1891 from Webster City high school. She attended college at Louisville, Ky., then started her 54-year career in teaching, accepting a position in a rural school near Webster City.

Miss Lyon taught for one year in the rural schools, four years at Eagle Grove and two years at Woolstock before coming to the Webster City school system. She taught for seven years in the local grade schools, then served for 40 years as an instructor at Lincoln High, specializing in history. During her teaching career she attended the University of Iowa and also took special training at the University, majoring in history.

Upon her retirement, in 1949, she was honored at a community observance in Jefferson Auditorium, and in 1957 she was again given special recognition by being named as Webster City's Centennial queen.

Miss Lyon was a charter member of the Chapter EL, P.E.O., and was the founder of Quill club. She was also active in all phases of the Women's club and an active member of the First Congregational church. For many years she taught the adult Sunday school class at the church.

She was a lifetime member of the Iowa Historical Society, was a member and past officer of the Iowa Poetry Day association and the Midwest Chapparel Society and was historian for the Hamilton County Cancer Society.

Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Grace Butler of this city; one brother, Wyatt Lyon of Nevada, Iowa; 13 nieces and nephews and a large number of grandnieces and nephews.