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Lester Alonzo Lyon (1943)

LYON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 9/3/2006 at 20:24:24

Winterset Madisonian - Wed., May 5, 1943

LESTER LYON TOOK OWN LIFE FRIDAY

Young Scott Township Man Uses Shotgun to Shoot Self

Lester Lyon, young Scott township farmer, committed suicide last Friday by shooting himself at his farm home about seven miles east of Winterset. He was 33 year of age.

Mr. Lyon had a wide acquaintance in this county. He was connected with the Winterset Community auction as assistant clerk, did commercial trucking, in addition to operating his farm. He was a native of this county and had spent all his life here, with the exception of 10 years in Des Moines.

The tragedy occurred about 7:10 a.m. last Friday. He came to the house after completing the morning chores, and went to an upstairs bedroom. His wife and three small children were in the house at the time. Shortly afterwards they heard the fatal shotgun blast from upstairs.

Coroner Paul Eggleston of Winterset was called and investigated the death. No inquest was held. Mr. Lyon left no note, and no reason for the act could be assigned by his family, except that he had been in ill health recently.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by the three children, Dale, Robert and Judy Ann; by his parents, Jacob and Viola Lyon of Scott township; two brothers, Dale Lyon of the U.S. army and Linden E. Lyon of Seattle, Wash., and two sisters, Nalda Lyon of Des Moines, and Audrey Lyon at home.

Funeral services were held Monday from the Anderson Funeral home, in charge of the Rev. James Walls of the Peru Methodist church. Burial was made in the Union Chapel cemetery.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, May 6, 1943
Page 1, Column 5

PATTERSON MAN COMMITTS SUICIDE

Lester Lyon, Age 33, Dead From Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound.

Lester Lyon, 33 year old trucker, died Friday morning from a self-inflicted gunshot at his home southwest of Patterson. Lyon’s death was pronounced a suicide by Coroner Paul E. Eggleston, who investigated.

Lyon had awakened early and had been doing his chores, according to his wife and shortly before seven a.m. he came to the house and asked her to get his shotgun so that he could shoot a bunch of crows that had been bothering. Mrs. Lyon told the coroner that her husband had not been feeling well and she told him just to let the crows go that morning.

Lyon apparently determined to shoot the crows, went upstairs after the gun himself. He was gone for some time and finally Mrs. Lyon went up to find them. Just as she started up the steps a shot was fired and she found her husband dying when she got to his room. He had taken the gun, a 12 gauge shotgun, and placed it against the back of his head and fired.

Coroner Eggleston said he could find no particular reason for the act excepting ill health.

Lester Alonz Lyon was the son of Jacob and Viola Lyon live on a neighboring farm. He was born July 30, 1908, near Patterson and was 33 years and 9 months of age when he died. He was married October 1, 1928 to Mildred Price at Adel, Iowa, and three children were born to them.

Lyon had spent nearly all of his life in Madison county, graduating from the Patterson high school. He was engaged in clerking sales and trucking besides the operation of the farm.

He is survived by his wife and three children; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Long (sic); two brothers forest Dale in the U.S. Army and Linda Eugene; two sisters, Nelda and Audrey.

Funeral services were held here Monday, May 3, at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. James Walls. Interment was made in the Union Chapel Cemetery.
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Coordinator's note: Middle name should be "Alonzo" per his Iowa Death Certificate.

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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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