Sharon Ann Lyons

Sherri Lyons, of Rochester, passed away on May 11, 2020. She was the beloved wife of 57 years of Jim Lyons, and the beloved mother of Jamie (Chris) Lyons-Eddy of Troy and Julie (Craig) Gillikin of Rochester Hills. She is survived by 5 adored grandchildren Max (Estelle Malmed) Eddy, Miles Eddy, Jules Eddy, Connor Gillikin and Anna Gillikin. Sherri was born to Ada (Snyder) and Ford Everett in Pontiac, Michigan. She grew up there with her 4 siblings Vicki Rickard of Novi, David (Betsy) Everett of Murfreesboro TN, Claudia (Bill) Penoza of Rapid City and Steve (Debbie) Everett of Riverview. Sherri was a serious acrobat as a child as part of a group called the Del Davis girls, and traveled with the Shrine Circus of Canada doing acrobatic performance. She was still able to do cartwheels late enough in life to teach cartwheel technique to her youngest granddaughter.

Sherri and Jim had their first ever date with one another in the 8th grade, graduated together from Pontiac Northern High School and were married at age 21. They started their married life in Ann Arbor, then raised their kids in Flint and Lake Orion before moving to Rochester where they lived for the last 26 years.

Sherri loved family, extended family and friends. She loved holidays, gatherings, hosting and entertaining. She was an avid tennis player and golfer, was well-read, and doted on her grandchildren. She and Jim enjoyed travel, dancing, and bridge. She was gracious, warm, generous, and thoughtful and had extraordinary discipline and integrity. When diagnosed with dementia 12 years ago, although it was her worst fear come true, she handled it with grace. She asked early on in the disease that no one ever feel sorry for her, and became very silly, fun and easygoing as the disease progressed.

The family is forever grateful to mom’s two caregivers, Cindy Arcari of Washington and Diana Conley of Chesterfield who came in originally to be Sherri's companions and spent years taking her on exciting adventures, keeping her life interesting and varied, and giving her the love, patience and assistance she needed to be her best all the way through her illness. Their support to Jim, Jamie and Julie has also been a gift.

Donations can be made in Sherri’s honor to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington Street, Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.