Donnis Cecil Lyon

Donnis Cecil Lyon, 81, of the Shady Grove Community in Laurel, Mississippi, passed away on April 29, 2013, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Born early on Christmas morning, 1931, Mr. Lyon was the middle child of Carl William Lyon and Esther Elizabeth Powell Lyon of Laurel. His siblings, Delores Lyon Reeves and Dorman Lyon, are both lifelong residents of Shady Grove Community. In 1953, Mr. Lyon married his high school and college sweetheart Mary Ball at Shady Grove Baptist Church, on May 29. This year's anniversary would have been their sixtieth. A well-known and highly respected educator, Mr. Lyon earned degrees in biology and chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi after completing an A.A. degree at Jones Jr. College, where he competed on the Bobcats' track team. Subsequently, Mr. Lyon attended Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi, receiving Master's degrees in Biology and in Educational Administration, as well as a Specialist's Degree in biology. During a teaching career that spanned forty years of service to the State of Mississippi, Mr. Lyon taught at Ruleville High School in the Delta, Jones County's Sweetwater Community, as well as Central and Mason Schools, Maddox Junior High and R. H. Watkins High School, all in Laurel. He also conducted field research through The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. From 1970 until his retirement in the mid-1990s, Mr. Lyon taught various biology courses, particularly anatomy and physiology, at his alma mater, Jones Jr. College. Greatly admired as an inspiring teacher and gifted lecturer, Mr. Lyon enjoyed few activities more than providing students with a spirited, enlightening and rewarding educational experience. During episodes of ill health over the last decade and a half, Mr. Lyon took frequent comfort and considerable pleasure in so many of his care providers being former students. Mr. Lyon received numerous honors for his exceptional instruction, including "Teacher of the Year" at Jones Jr. College. Nothing provided more gratification to him, though, than proudly following the successful careers of his former students. After retirement, Mr. Lyon embarked on a virtual second career as a genealogical researcher, compiling several volumes of material on his Lyon, Powell, Lowe, Collins, Murray, Welborn and Valentine ancestors as well as Mrs. Lyon's Ball, Smith, Ishee, Holifield and Long forebears. Various other researchers, churches and interested groups sought Mr. Lyon's valuable information, keen insights and scrupulous research. He also served as a genealogy and family history consultant for Professor Victoria Bynum's book, The Long Shadow of the Civil War: Southern Dissent and Its Legacies. Mr. Lyon thoroughly enjoyed the connections he made and assistance he gave through this avocation. A football and basketball standout for the Shady Grove Golden Eagles during high school, Mr. Lyon remained an avid sports fan throughout his life, enthusiastically following college football and basketball (particularly JCJC and USM teams), Brett Favre's career, and the Boston Celtics. After one of his sons graduated from the University of Alabama, Mr. Lyon became a staunch supporter of the Crimson Tide as well. Classical music constituted yet another enduring hobby. Mr. Lyon accumulated an enormous collection of recordings and listened to music several hours each day. His favorite television program was always Gunsmoke, a series that fortunately continued in reruns. However, Mr. Lyon's four grandchildren undoubtedly provided him with the most enjoyment, to which his many nieces, nephews, and their children added. Finally, Mr. Lyon will be deeply missed by his constant companion, Chico the Chihuahua, who appeared from nowhere one Christmas morning (Mr. Lyon's birthday). Mr. Lyon is survived by his wife of sixty years, Mary Ball Lyon, sons Kenneth Lyon (wife Donna Ford Lyon) of Flowood, Mississippi; Keith Lyon (wife Laura Ward Lyon) of Washington, North Carolina; and Kevin Lyon (wife Tina Boykin Lyon) of Laurel, as well as a sister, Dolores Lyon Reeves (husband Felton Reeves) of Laurel and a brother, Dorman Lyon (wife Doris Lowe Lyon) of Laurel. Mr. Lyon also leaves four grandchildren, Sara and William Lyon of Laurel, Kelsey Lyon of Washington, NC, and Rachel Lyon of Flowood. Visitation will be held at Memory Chapel in Laurel on Friday evening, May 3, from 5:00 until 8:00. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 A. M. on Saturday, May 4, also at Memory Chapel, with burial at Shady Grove Baptist Cemetery to follow. The Reverend Dr. Ronald Bishop, one of Mr. Lyon's colleagues from Jones Junior College, will officiate, with pastoral assistance from Reverends Danny Pitts and Joseph Harris. Pallbearers consist of son Kevin Lyon, brothers-in-law Floyd Ball and Charles Boone, nephew Michael Ball, Dale Holifield and Roy Boutwell. Mr. Lyon's long-time colleague and friend W. H. Pope, along with his many nephews, will serve as honorary pallbearers. thank all the relatives, friends, colleagues and former students of Mr. Lyon who have expressed their condolences in various deeply appreciated ways.

Donnis Cecil Lyon

December 25, 1931 - April 29, 2013