Verna Mae Helen (Orts) Lyon

Verna Mae Helen Orts Lyon, 94, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2022. Born on August 17, 1928, to August L. Orts and Annie Ehler Orts in the small town of Poth, Texas, Verna Mae was the fourth of five girls and had a younger half-brother. Growing up, she worked on the family farm milking cows, shucking corn, and collecting eggs from chicken coops. She graduated from Poth High School in 1944 as valedictorian.

The family could only afford to send one of the five girls to college, and Verna Mae was the lucky one. She entered the University of Texas at age 16, majored in Journalism and graduated with honors in just three years. At UT, Verna Mae Orts met Bill Lyon, the love of her life, with whom she celebrated 70 years of marriage just a few months before Bill’s passing in 2019. Bill and Verna Mae had been introduced by their respective roommates, Johnny Swegler and Kay Grimes, who also married and returned to El Paso. The two couples were lifelong friends. Bill and Verna Mae’s nine children, along with the Sweglers’ eleven, made their frequent visits memorable.

Verna Mae was a prolific journalist. Her first by-line was as a student, on a 1945 article in UT’s The Daily Texan. She won the prestigious UT Clarence E. Gilmore Prize in 1947 for three editorials on common-sense safety. Her writing was funny but insightful and engaging.

Writing took a back seat as Verna Mae became very busy raising her seven sons and two daughters. In 1971 she was chosen “Mother of the Year” by Southwest Clubwoman Magazine. She was a member of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church for over 65 years and served in many ministries there over the years, including the choir, the Altar Society, and the annual Bazaar committee.

She was a member of several PTAs, UTEP Women’s Auxiliary, Zeta Tau Alpha Mothers Club, Deanery Council of Catholic Women, Troop 14 Girl Scout Committee, and Hotel Dieu Hospital Volunteers. She was the nominee of the Young Matrons Auxiliary to the Woman’s Club for 1965 El Paso Mother of the Year.

Verna Mae had a strong sense of right and wrong. She expressed her views forthrightly and, as a mother, was a firm disciplinarian who set very high expectations for her children’s achievements and behavior. She bragged about their accomplishments, but mostly out of their earshot. Her efforts were rewarded as all nine became college graduates and went on to successful careers.

Verna Mae was a champion of the rights of the unborn and dedicated decades to working, along with her friend Kay Swegler, for El Paso Birthright, including as President for 17 years. She counseled countless women who had questions about pregnancy, parenting, adoption and related issues. She was instrumental in helping many couples and individuals find an alternative to abortion. Over time, helping people in difficult circumstances added nuance to her sense of right and wrong.

Verna Mae loved music and would spontaneously burst into song at any time. In later years, she would serenade everyone at the beauty shop while getting her hair done. She loved classical, jazz, and instrumental music, attending concerts and theater productions. For her favorite movie, The Sound of Music, she and Bill piled the kids into the family car, a cargo van fitted with bench seats, and off they went to the $0.99 drive-in movies. Such great times!

Bill and Verna also loved to camp and visited many national parks and monuments in the Southwest with their children. In later years, they discovered Elderhostel, and for many years it let them combine learning and travel while enjoying new cultures and new friends. In 1971, Verna Mae was in NYC and gained fame as the first El Pasoan to win on Jeopardy!, winning four days in a row.

Elegant and gracious to the end as she battled the last stages of Alzheimer’s, she lived in her home of 65 years enjoying the sunshine streaming thru the glass door, her TV, her food, and her family. Her feistiness became gentled and amiable, but the disease never erased her smile.

Verna Mae Orts Lyon was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Lyon Jr. as well as her parents and three sisters, Mildred, Isabela and Maxine. She is survived by her sister Jeanie Stoeltje (John David), her half-brother A.J. Orts, her nine children and their spouses or partners: David W. Lyon (Karin Lium), Catharine Lyon Brehm (Ronald), Richard F. Lyon (Margaret S. Asprey), James M. Lyon (Linda), Robert B. Lyon (Linda Weinert), Thomas L. Lyon (JoAnn Kahn), Eleanor Lyon Smyth (Frank), William L. Lyon III (Stephanie), and Jack C. Lyon (Lynette) along with 15 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

The family gives special thanks to Gloria, Albert, and Claudia Echeverria and Guadalupe Alvarado, who cared for Verna Mae with great love and affection.

A rosary will be held at Funeraria del Angel Central Martin Funeral Home, 3839 Montana Ave., El Paso, on Thursday November 17, 2022 at 3:00 pm followed by visitation from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, with a short service beginning at 5:00 pm. Mass will follow on Friday, November 18, 2022 at 12:00 pm at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, 4800 Byron St., followed by committal at 1:30 pm at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org), to fight the disease that afflicted Verna Mae.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.FunerariaDelAngelCentral.com for the Lyon family.