Julia Mae Lyons, 74, of DeWitt Street, Niles, died at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Mission Hospital in Mission, Texas, following a brief illness.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Northwest United Methodist Church, 21855 Brick Road, South Bend, Ind., with Pastor Vickie VanNevel officiating.

There will be a funeral luncheon held immediately following the service at the church.
She was born on Aug. 8, 1935, in Benton Harbor, to Clarence and Eda Krieger.

She graduated from Niles High School in 1953. She was a lifetime area resident and wintered in Texas.

She attended United Methodist Church in South Bend, Ind.

She was a member of the Red Hat Society and the “53” Club, both in Niles, also the American kennel Club.

On June 14, 1953, in Niles, she married her one and only Leon W. Lyons, who preceded her in death on July 28, 2007.

She was a devoted wife and enjoyed 54 years of her life with her husband.

Surviving family includes a son, Jerry (Jodi) King of Niles; a daughter, Sherry Lyons Coffel of Michigan and 10 grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Methodist Church, South Bend, Ind.

Local arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.