Louise Lyons

As a child, Louise excelled at piano and spent long hours diligently practicing, but also expressed her headstrong side by climbing to the top of oil derricks in Coalinga where the family lived for a time. To her mother’s chagrin, she was known to arrive home with her arms and clothes stained from the juice of wild pomegranates she had enjoyed as an after-school snack. After learning about Stanford University as a youngster, she determined it was the place for her. Fortunately, she was accepted, as it was the only college to which she applied. She majored in biology during a time when there were few women in the sciences, and was invited to apply to the university’s medical school.

Fate had other things in store, however, because it was at Stanford that Louise met a skinny Economics major, Jim Lyons. They were married in 1956 in Stanford Memorial Church, and she graduated later that same year. The newlyweds moved to Colorado Springs, CO where Jim was an Army officer and Louise trained as a lab technician. They soon returned to Jim’s hometown of Santa Ana where their family grew to include three children: Carolyn, Leonard and Katie. They later lived in Turlock, CA and Porterville, CA before retiring to Laguna Niguel in 2002.

In addition to her family, Louise valued and kept in touch with people from all realms of her life: elementary school, high school and college, the neighborhoods in which she lived, the churches she attended, and the Freedom Newspaper Corporation where Jim began and ended his career.

She was by nature most comfortable in one-on-one settings. She was always available for the simple pleasure of a cup of coffee and a chat with a friend or, as grandson Ben remembers, to share a bowl of goldfish crackers and a conversation that was just between the two of them. Despite her private nature, she was game for new adventures, whether it be a trip “over the hill” to San Francisco to see the latest play or try the newest restaurant, a sail over the Napa Valley in a hot air balloon, or a wildlife photography safari to Africa. Her mischievous side blossomed when she became a grandmother, such as the time she and toddler Olivia were caught red-handed, faces smeared with chocolate, jumping on the bed together – at 11 pm!

Beneath Louise’s elegant and reserved exterior was a woman who loved deeply. She leaves her children and grandchildren a legacy of deep devotion to family. She will be remembered for her keen intellect, graciousness in trying circumstances and wicked sense of humor, not to mention her sweet, sweet smile which could melt a person’s heart

Louise’s beloved Jim preceded her in death, as did her mother, Gertrude Eiland and step-father, Don Eiland. She is survived by children Carolyn Lyons-Potter (Susan), Leonard Lyons, and Kate Canty (Ryan), and grandchildren Olivia Lyons-Potter and Benjamin Canty. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Diane Lyons, and nephews Jack and Brad Lyons.

Services at Fairhaven will be private. The family requests that any contributions in her memory be made to the Capital Building Campaign of St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 1001 Stone Canyon Drive, Roseville, CA 95661.