Betty Lyon Daniel

Betty Lyon Daniel
1926 - 2025
Celebrating the life of Betty Lyon Daniel, a remarkable servant of Christ who lived a fulfilling 98 years surrounded by family, enthusiasm, and joy. Betty was born to Barney (Byron) and Grace Hatton Lyon in the small town of Seymour, Indiana on August 22, 1926. Betty was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, cousin, and friend. Her love for family, for teaching, and for music shaped her journey, inspiring those around her with her creativity and joy.
Betty was a self-declared "tomboy" who would rather play outside and wear out any and all friends that tried to keep pace with her. She graduated from Shields High School in Seymour, Indiana in 1944. During World War 2, she worked at Atterbury Air Field Near Columbus, Indiana, proudly supporting the troops and the U.S. obligation to the war effort. She left Indiana in 1957 and moved to Lakeland, Florida with her son, Mike, where she worked for a bank while completing her bachelor's degree in Education from Florida Southern College. It was at FSC where she met Major Raymond Daniel (USAF) and the two were wed in June, 1971. She proudly taught fourth grade for over 20 years at Winston Elementary School and completed her Master's degree in Education from the University of South Florida. She maintained friendships with several of her fourth grade students up through the time of her passing.
Betty's love for her family was more than obligation or appreciation. Her family was consistently referred to as "my joy" and her dedication was a daily demonstration of her commitment. While she loved traveling, the view from her NC front porch, quality pasta and dessert, it was being surrounded by those she loved that filled her heart the most -- especially at her ever-expanding dinner table, which always made room for extra family and friends.
Betty's love for music carried her through decades, filling moments with melody and harmony. Times of singing around the piano frequently graced family gatherings. She was not only an accomplished pianist and organist, but started and led the "American Aires" youth choir at South Florida Heights Church of the Nazarene (now Church for the ONE), instilling her love for music and worship into many young adults. She would share her love for Jesus with anyone who would sit still long enough to listen, repeating daily, "He's been so faithful to me all these years."
While clogging and award-winning basket weaving slowed down the last few years, Betty spent her last few weeks surrounding herself with family and friends she adored. Through phone calls, video calls and even attending school concerts, baseball games, and family dinners, she lived life to the fullest for as long as possible--all the while letting everyone know how precious they were to her. Betty's wit, tenacity, and joy for life will be deeply missed, but her legacy lives on through her loved ones and the many lives she touched. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Raymond Daniel, her parents, her sister and brother-in-law Velma Whittington Hopewell and Robert Whittington. She is survived by her loving family including son, Michael Schmidt and wife Debbie, her granddaughters Cheri Taylor with husband Brandon, and Jennifer Price with husband Michael, her great-grandchildren Annaleigh and Ashlynn Taylor, and Lorelei and William Price, all of Lakeland, cousins Don Decker with wife Sunnie, and Sue Brown DeFoor of Carmel, California, Bill Hatton, and Doyle Lyon with wife Barbara, of Indiana.
Betty will be memorialized with visitation at 10:00 AM and a memorial service following at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 7, 2025 in the Joy Center of Family Worship Center, 1330 E. Rose St., Lakeland, FL. Flowers may be sent to Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, 1727 Bartow Rd, Lakeland, FL.