Barbara Lyon

1920 - 2017

Barbara Pierce Lyon

Sep 20, 1920 - Jan 12, 2017

After 96 years with all of us, Barbara Lyon passed away unexpectedly on Jan 12, 2017, near her home in Fremont, CA. Barbara was born in Chicago, raised by her older sisters in New York City. In 1942, she met and married the love of her life, Boyd Vincent (aka B.B.) Lyon; postwar, they moved west to San Francisco where they raised five children. In the city, she danced, made music and painted. At 50, she returned to college and earned her BA from SF State, followed quickly by a MA from the SF Theological Seminary. After Barbara's husband was ordained an Episcopal minister, they made the move to Fremont, CA, where she continued to grow, diving into yoga which she practiced and taught to Fremont senior citizens to the end of her days. She also discovered poetry; at the time of her death, she was compiling a third volume for publication. Barbara leaned into life. She was forever pushing on possibilities, curious, searching out new adventures, new connections, new art. She backpacked in the Sierras, rafted rivers, lived abroad, always singing, always writing, always creating: sculpture, portraits, landscape watercolors, collages, many of which found their way to local exhibitions. She was a part of so many communities and so many lives; indeed, her talents were unleashed and her spirit fulfilled through these relationships. Barbara and Boyd were married for 63 years; he died in 2005. She is survived by her five children, an impressive group of grandchildren and great grandkids, a trio of nieces, a great niece, and cousins. Plans are being made for a memorial gathering in Fremont, CA in mid-February. Please contact the family for additional details. In lieu of flowers, tread gently on the planet and bring kindness into your community.