Lillian M Tryon

Lillian was the 3rd of 9 children. They were Cajuns, and the large family is still largely in the Lake Charles, LA area. Her father was a sharecropper, and all the kids were expected to help pick cotton. She graduated from high school in Church Point, worked as a telephone operator, and met her handsome soldier, Jimmy, who was stationed in Ft. Polk. She became a dedicated military wife, and spent time stationed in Ft. Benning, Ga., Bad Tolz, Germany, Okinawa, Ft. Bragg, and Fayetteville, and finally moving to Charlotte to be near her daughter and family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Arthur Tryon and one son, Richard Stephen Tryon; her parents, Lorenza and Eva Matte; and siblings Lilly Mae Cradeur and Joe Matte.

She is survived by son Wayne Tryon and wife Lynn of Glastonbury, CT; Sheila Tryon Newcomer of Charlotte; grandchildren Dr. Christian Tryon and wife Rhonda of MA; Heather Winship and husband Matt of CT; and Aidan Newcomer of CO; great granddaughters “Lily” Lillian Grace & Katherine Elizabeth Winship, and Violet Yen Tryon. She is also survived by precious siblings Estelle, Alice, Viola, Elda, Ervin and Theodule (“Yo”), and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. She would also want to recognize dear family friend Pamela Blackmore, whom she loved like a daughter.

Mom was proud of a clean house, and kept it up with Army-grade precision. While living in Fayetteville, she was very active in various women’s groups with St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She had many dear friends thru church, her wonderful neighborhood, and of course the tight bonds formed through military ties. She was loved by all who knew her.

She was a great cook (and knew how to pinch a penny), and always managed to look stylish and put together. She loved nail polish and nice perfume, and took care of her skin with quite a nightly regimen. Her beautiful, thick silver hair was the envy of many.

But most of all, she was a nurturing wife and mother whose children were (in her mind) the smartest and cleverest of all, and could do no wrong. She supported her husband’s military career with all that it required of her. She loved us fiercely, and her worrying knew no bounds.

Probably the only thing she didn’t do well was how to accept a compliment. She was so humble, and never saw her merits as others did. Her highest compliment about someone was that they were like an “old shoe”... soft, comfortable, broken in, and fit you like a glove— but that was really how SHE was.

We used to kid her about her sacrificing ways, joking that she was trying to earn points in heaven. Finally she accumulated so many she has surely earned her wings. We will miss her, but are joyful for her reunion with her family in heaven, and her healing.

Services will be held at McEwen Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28210 on Tuesday, October 30, 2018 with a Visitation beginning at 11:00 am and the Funeral at 12:00 noon.

Burial will be on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, 12 noon, at Cumberland Memorial Gardens, 4509 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28304.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.