Margaret Agnes Lyon

Early morning of March 16, a beautiful day full of sunshine and wild flowers abloom, Mom left her earthly body to be reunited with Dad, my brother Larry, her siblings, Hugh, Francis, Lois, Joe, Betty and Jim, and her parents in Heaven.

Margaret Agnes Shields Lyon was born at home, the third of seven children to James and Mary Odilia (Tillie) Hecker Shields on Dec. 5, 1919 in Harrington, WA., community of Downs. Mom's Great Grandparents were immigrants from Ireland/Germany emigrating through Canada before the existence of Ellis Island.

In 1925 Grandpa's family, followed by brother Bill, homesteaded in Sumatra, Montana. Due to severe drought conditions they left Sumatra in 1931 moving to the Yakima valley area where Grandpa became a herdsman for Reese Brown in Brownstown and Grandma cooked for the crew in a tent house where they also slept while the children slept in a second tent house. Mom went to grade school in what later became the Brownstown Grange Hall. She continued on to White Swan where she graduated from high school in 1938. During her senior year she worked for and lived with the Dufault family for $20 a month then for the Lawrence family who paid $25 a month taking care of children, washing/ironing, cleaning and cooking/baking and attended school. Mom worked there until her wedding day.

Mom met Dad, Jesse Wayne Lyon, on a blind date to a movie (there was a movie house in White Swan at that time) set up by his brother Donald. They were married on Aug. 12, 1940. My brother Larry Wayne was born in 1941 and I, Nancy Colleen was in 1943.

Mom was a stay-at-home farmer's wife. She was an accomplished seamstress sewing for many women in the area continuing into her eighties/early 90's; took in ironing as well. Every Monday was bread baking day. I'll never forget that aroma as we got off of the school bus, walking down the lane. She kept a garden, stocked the root cellar with canned goods and sauerkraut every summer, churned the butter, plus preparing three full meals every day. Sunday supper was often pot roast day. Sundays were for church and visiting family unless it was planting or harvest time. And at harvest time she prepared meals/fresh lemonade for the threshing crew and beet crew. No matter how tough life got Mom called on her faith to pull her through; the eternal optimist.

Mom loved family gatherings/reunions at Brooks Park, Harrington or Forsythe, Montana where she would bring out the family genealogy picture albums to share. Following retirement, Mom and Dad enjoyed road trips centered around geology and rock hounding.

Mom is survived by daughter Nancy Gossett (Bob), daughter-in-law Lolly Lyon; three grandsons, two granddaughters, five great grandsons, two great granddaughters and two great great granddaughters. Mom was a treasure and will be missed always.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the staff and caregivers at Summitview Healthcare for their kindness and care to my Mom.

Services of Christian burial will be at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church on Washington/3rd Ave. on Thursday, April 4th at 11:00, with burial at Calvary Cemetery at 1:30.