Mary Frances Lyons

Many may be fortunate enough to have a wonderful mother, a kind and beautiful light in their lives, but precious few have one whose light shines into the world for all to see. As her cousin Sarah Willcox Walters said, "Everyone loves your mother."

Mrs. Lyons was born in New Orleans on July 18, 1930, daughter of the late Sarah Frances Reed McCrary and Burton Leroy McCrary of Mobile, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Anthony Lyons; sons: Anthony, John, and Robert Lyons; daughter, Anne Derick Lyons; and grandson, Loudon Lyons. She died peacefully at home on February 21, 2026, at the age of 95.

"She was an angel on earth," Walters said on hearing the news.

She lived a full and vibrant life - from early days when her mother thought she might be the next Shirley Temple, to extensive travels and adventures, to her pursuit of interests and talents, her marriage, and years with her eleven children and their offspring. Growing up, she rode horses in Spring Hill, attended the Visitation Monastery elementary school and Murphy High School, and studied art.

A talented artist, she painted the scenes around her including horses, and later, while living in Japan, created Sumi-e bamboo paintings for her children. After her marriage to a New Yorker, she discovered opera at the Metropolitan Opera with La Traviata, and opera and ballet were life-long passions. Super-social, well read and intelligent, she could talk with anyone, with a particular interest in politics. Soft-hearted and accepting, she could explain away anyone's faults.

Mrs. Lyons was, in a word, joyful - her inner light beams out in photo after photo with her family over the years. She leaves behind seven children: Theresa Blackwell, Michael Lyons, Jimmy Lyons, Dominic Lyons, Stephen Lyons, Elizabeth Lyons, and Kathy Jeter; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Heather Doerre and her sons also mourn their adopted "Grandma" and the family thanks her for her kind, resourceful, and cheerful care.

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 6040 Three Notch Road, Mobile, Alabama 36619. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 12:00 Noon and held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4980 St. Vincent Drive, Mobile, Alabama. Interment will be at the Catholic Cemetery, 1700 Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36617, with a reception following at St. Vincent's. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the St. Vincent's Bereavement Group serving at the reception.