Evelyn Lyons
November 28, 1927 ~ November 18, 2024
Evelyn Lois Patterson Lyons, 96, Born November 28, 1927 and entered into eternal rest, November 18, 2024.
She was a native of the Bon Ayr community in Smiths Grove, KY and was a charter member of the Bon Ayr United Methodist Church. She was a farmer and a farmer’s wife who milked cows, tilled the land and drove tractors. She was a school teacher and a factory worker, and retired as an Optometrist Assistant to the late Dr. B.D. Sanderfur in Glasgow.
She was a life member of the Rocky Hill Chapter 279 Order of Eastern Star of Kentucky and was active in Counted Cross Stitch and is known for her beautiful quilts. She was a local historian on all things Barren County.
She was the daughter of Waller (W.W.) and Annie Houchens Patterson and was the youngest of three daughters. She attended the Bon Ayr one room school house for eight years and graduated in 1944 from Park City High School.
On July 7, 1945, she married James C. Lyons who served in the U.S. Army during WWII and they were married 42 years until his death in 1987. Together, they shared two children.
During the war, she went to work at the Ken Rad Factory in Bowling Green as a welder on light bulbs as part of the war effort, earning her a unique place in history as a “Rosie the Riveter” joining the 20 million women who entered the workplace.
She enrolled in Western Kentucky University from January 1945- July 1945 to become a school teacher. She taught at the Denton and Merry Oaks one-room school houses.
Survivors include her two children, Carolyn Oliver and James “Jimmy” Lyons, Jr, daughter-in-law Christine, two grandsons: James C. Lyons, III (Courtney), and Christopher Jake Lyons. Three great grandchildren: Jessalyn Claire and James Bennett Lyons and Paisley Layne Dyer; three step grandchildren and seven step great-grandchildren; and one adopted grand-daughter, Paula Ratliff Pedigo; One niece, Marilyn Lockhart Gold, and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
Her caregivers and friends include Jackie Jones, Rhonda Sexton, Terri Averill, and Shanita Maxie.
In addition to family and friends, she leaves behind her precious furry companions: Cupcake and Precious.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, an infant son and grandson; sisters, Kathryn Lockhart and Clydean Dickerson; nieces, Roberta Dickerson Hawkins and Gloria Ann Dickerson Rutledge; nephew Homer Elwood Lockhart; great-great niece Taylor Brown; and son-in-laws: Terry M. Lowe and Robert Lee Oliver.
Her life was an example of graciousness and kindness. She was loved by many and all who knew her were blessed with the gifts of her friendship and love.
Funeral will be 2:00 pm Friday, November 22, 2024 at the Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home with burial in the Merry Oaks Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm Thursday and after 9:00 am Friday until time for services. Special thanks to T. J. Samson Hospice. Memorial tributes may be sent to BRAWA, Merry Oaks Cemetery Fund or a charity of choice.
I am sorry to hear about Evelyn. She was such a kind and wonderful lady who I got to know when I moved to Glasgow and began accompanying my mother to the senior citizen activities at Lera B Mitchell clubhouse. I enjoying reading about all her accomplishments of which I had no idea of most of this.