Tonight I am saddened as a long time Family Friend passed away earlier today in Iowa.

Raymond Lyon passed away at the age of 94 and I am having many memories of him tonight.

The picture here shows Raymond and Grace Lyon from around 1960 when they lived near my grandparents.

Raymond and Grace celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary before Grace passed away four years ago. They had been a great example to many people including my parents.

Here are my grandparents from the same time period. They first met Raymond and Grace when they started attending the Frytown Church of Christ. Raymond was preaching at Frytown at that time and had a great influence on my Grandpa.

My grandparents were baptized shortly after they started attending church at Frytown.

My grandpa later became a preacher and started a congregation at nearby What Cheer. A few years later Raymond and my grandpa switched places and my grandpa started preaching at Frytown. In the picture above my grandpa is standing in front of the Frytown church building.

During this time our families became very close and we continue to stay in touch. I was in the wedding of one of their daughters and still keep in touch with some of their grandchildren. I also have wonderful memories of visiting their home in the country just north of Ottumwa, Iowa.

I am also remember my Dad talking about times when he worked with Raymond while he was in college. He helped him build a lot of rock walls in the Ottumwa area.

I am friends with many of Raymond’s descendants and memories have flooded back tonight as I see pictures on Facebook.

I will close with another picture I have of Raymond and Grace that really brings back a lot of memories for me.

The family is in my thoughts and prayers tonight as they remember a great man.

Steven