Obituary of Esther R. Lyon

Lyon, Esther (Roberts) Churchville: Passed peacefully on October 10, 2016 , age 96. She was predeceased by her husband Daniel Lyon; her two brothers and sisters-in-law, Walter (Elnora) Roberts and Albert “Bud” (Betty) Roberts; and two nephews, Jimmy Roberts and Larry Roberts. She is survived by her step-daughter Meredith (Jeffrey) Altman of Churchville; granddaughter Megan (Robert) Hoose; two great-grandsons, Jessup and Aaron Hoose; two nieces Judith Snavley of Youngsville, PA, and Nanette (Bill) Rode of Warren, PA; a nephew David (Carmen Wong) Roberts of Glendale, CA; and several grandnieces and great-grandnephews. Esther was born and raised in Warren, PA, the daughter of LeRoy and Leota Sigworth Roberts. She attended Chesbrough Seminary (now Roberts Wesleyan College) and Seattle Pacific College as well as receiving a bachelor’s degree from Greenville College (IL) and a master’s degree from Syracuse University. Esther taught high school English at Lottsville, PA, and at Roberts Junior College in North Chili, NY, before moving to Winona Lake, IN, to begin a 30-year career in editing Christian Education materials for the Free Methodist Church of North America. She also authored “The Bishop and His Lady,” a biography of B. T. Roberts, the founder of the school that later became Roberts Wesleyan College. At age 64, Esther retired and married for the first time, becoming a wife, mother, and grandmother all on the same day. She and her husband Dan moved to Spencerport, NY, in 1988 and then to Churchville in 2000. Recently she resided at The Village at Unity in Greece, NY, before moving to Lakeside Beikirch Care Center in Brockport last month. Known for her ever-present warm smile and cheerful disposition, Esther was a woman of strong Christian faith and a long-time member of Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church in North Chili, where she was active in the seniors’ group, as well as in SCOR (Senior Citizens of Riga), until the last few months. For several years she was a volunteer tutor in the OASIS reading program at Fairbanks Road Elementary School (Churchville-Chili). Special interests included reading, bird watching, crocheting, table games, seniors’ field trips, and interacting with the family cats. To light a candle of remembrance, please visit www.alifecelebrated.com. Esther’s funeral service will be held Saturday October 22 at 3:00 pm at Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church, 4322 Buffalo Rd. N. Chili. Interment private.