Lena Mae Lyson

April 30, 1932 – January 21, 2018

Lena was born on April 30th to Jerry and Eva Pickens in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Growing up, Lena’s mother did the best that she could for her six children and Lena acted as a second mother to her brothers and sisters. After high school, Lena got a job with Hollister Stier Company.

Lena would eventually fall in love with a neighbor boy named Leonard Lyson, and the two would marry in 1949. Leonard worked as the lead welder for Kaiser Aluminum for 34 years and Lena delivered the newspaper in the Spokane Valley for 22 years often driving 60 miles a day regardless of the weather conditions. Lena was considered a second mother to anyone that was close to her. Lena and Leonard loved to travel and have been to all 50 states and numerous countries around the world. They loved to spend summers on their houseboat fishing on Lake Koocanusa near Libby, MT. Later in life, they became snowbirds and would travel to Mesa, AZ for the winters.

Lena was proud of many things in her life including her 66-year marriage to Leonard, her grandchildren, and the fact that she was the Western United States Stock & Modified Women’s Snowmobile Racing Champion in 1968.

Lena and Leonard had three children, Keith (Linda), Karen (Wally) Pirello and Gary (Julie), seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard M. Lyson. She is survived sisters Marjie Erickson, Vicki Utterback, brothers Dwain Pickens, Walt and Pat Wilberding. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 910 W. 5th Ave, Spokane, WA 99204.

A Visitation is scheduled for Fri., Feb. 2, 2018 from 2:00 – 6:00pm at Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home, 1306 N. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley, WA. The Graveside Service is at Greenwood Memorial Terrace, 211 N. Government Way, Spokane, WA on Sat., Feb. 3, 2018 at 10:30am. The Memorial Service follows at the Hazen & Jaeger Valley Funeral Home at 1:30pm with reception to follow.