Nancy Lyon

1936 - 2011

NANCY COCKERHAM

LYON

ASHEVILLE - Nancy Cockerham Lyon, 74, died Sunday, May 8, 2011 at the John F. Keever Solace Center.

Nancy was born July 25, 1936, in Surry County, North Carolina. Her family moved to a farm in Wilkes County when she was five years old. She attended Elkin High School. At Woman's College of UNC (later UNC-G) she studied Spanish and English, receiving her BA degree there in 1959. She, along, with her two younger sisters, became teachers. In 1961, she married Boyce M. Lyon and moved to Asheville. She began teaching Spanish at Lee Edwards High School in 1962 and later became the head of the Spanish Department.

When she became pregnant in 1969, she had to resign from teaching (as was the law). She was offered a job teaching Spanish at Asheville School for Boys and became only the third woman to teach there. When she returned two years later to public school, she was assigned to South French Broad Junior High, where she spent fifteen years teaching Spanish and English before returning to Asheville High. Nancy always had active Spanish clubs, led several student trips to Mexico, and mentored many new teachers over the years. She retired in 1994 after 34 years in the classroom, although she remained active in the local chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, the professional honor society of women educators.

She enjoyed traveling with her family, painting landscapes, cooking, teaching Sunday School, and playing golf.

Survivors include her husband of forty-nine years, Boyce M. Lyon; a son, Gregory B. Lyon of Asheville, and two sisters, Sandra G. Cockerham of Wilkesboro and Linda L. Cockerham of San Diego, California.

A memorial service for Mrs. Lyon will be held 3 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2011 at the Skyland United Methodist Church with the Reverend Keith Turman officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will follow at Calvary Episcopal Churchyard in Fletcher.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Delta Kappa Gamma (Gamma Chapter) Grants-in-Aid Fund, c/o Bonnie Wells, 47 Pine Ridge Road, Mars Hill, NC 28754, or to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family. A memorial register is available at grocefuneralhome.com.