Lucille Bonar Lyons

Heaven had better buckle up—one of God's liveliest creations is coming home. Lucille Bonar Lyons died on November 6, 2008 at the age of 93. She was born on January 12, 1915 to Clarence Russell Bonar and Nell Jones Watson in Stratford, Texas. She grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and both places were too small to hold the enormous energy and ambition she had. After high school, she attended secretarial school and applied to the State Department. In 1942 she received an appointment from Secretary of State Cordell Hull to the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile where she met the first love of her life, Joseph Frisz. They were married and moved to Lima, Peru where she worked in the U.S. Embassy. Lucille's son, Joseph Fredric Frisz, was born there. Lucille and Joe came to a parting of the ways and in 1948 she moved with her son to Cali, Colombia, where she met and married yet another wonderful man, Rafe Lyons. Lucille and Rafe moved to Caracas, Venezuela, where she worked as an administrative assistant to a private Swedish company. In 1963, they retired to Austin where Joe was attending St. Stephen's Episcopal School. Austin immediately became a livelier place. Lucille was a member of Pan American Round Table, The Austin Women's Club, and the DAR. She was famous for her love of parties, travel, and bridge—in that order. She was flamboyant, fun and at times outrageous, but never dull. She will always be remembered for her love of beautiful clothes, beautiful people, champagne and chocolates. She was romantic, intelligent, fiercely independent, outspoken, thoughtful and generous. She was a wonderful story teller, and stories she did have. She lived life to the fullest. Lucille is survived by her son, Joe and wife, Elisa Frisz, of Austin, her grandsons, Joe and wife, Connie, of Miami, Florida and Louis Frisz, of Austin. Her sisters, Pat Lovett and Erma Lee Skillman along with many nieces and nephews and cousins Janell and Tom Foster also survive her. She left behind dear friends, too numerous to mention. The family would like to thank her devoted, and loyal caregivers, Tina Delgado, Mary Navarro, Mattie Fletcher, Maria Beistline, and Lizbeth Delgado for their many years of loving care. We would also like to thank the nurses and staff of Westminster Manor and of Hospice Austin for their help in making Lucille's last days comfortable and peaceful. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to Dr. Ace Alsup for his many years of care, support and friendship not only to her but to the family as well. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Austin in Lucille's name. Services will be on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home in Austin and a celebration afterwards of Lucille's full and wonderful life.