After a protracted battle with cancer, Betty Charlotte Lyon died on August 24, 2015 in her home in Urbana, IL at the age of 87. She leaves behind her son, Michael William Lyon; her daughter-in-law, Barbara Parry Lyon; and her grandchildren, Jonathan Christian William Lyon and Jennifer Ashley Lynn Lyon.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 28, 2015 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory, Urbana, Rev. Steve Anderson will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Betty was born on March 19, 1928 in Ogden, IL, to Howard Hall and mother Mamie Hall, both who predeceased her. She grew up in a small, close, loving family. She graduated from Ogden High School and began working in Champaign while attending the Illinois Commercial College; she excelled in business courses and graduated in 1948. From there she worked for an architect firm Urbana for 4 years, later working as a secretary at the University of Illinois, in the Business Office of the Athletic Association.

Betty married CW "Bud" Lyon on July 27, 1952. She and Bud met while they both worked for the Athletic Association. Betty worked at both Flossie Wiley Elementary and Urbana Middle School as a secretary. The couple lived and raised their only child in Urbana.

Betty was a kind, gentle caring light in the world, with a great love of her friends, traveling with her husband, playing her piano and her church. When diagnosed with renal cancer early in 2014, she remained optimistic in her will to fight her illness, through both chemo and radiation therapies, exceeding the most optimistic prognosis by more than a year. She remained a brave, caring and loving woman, even throughout her final months.

Betty is survived by her son and his wife and two grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Bud Lyon; and her first grandson Gary Michael William Lyon, who died in infancy. Betty will be interred in Mount Hope Cemetery at the family plot that she and Bud selected under a big oak tree, while still working at the university. The family would especially like to thank Diversified Health Care, Betty's in-home caretakers, for their excellent work and loving care; the staff of Carle Hospital and Clark-Lindsey Meadowbrook for their attentive treatment; and the Renner-Wikoff Funeral Home, for making the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation to The American Cancer Society.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Champaign.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.