Freda E. Lyons

FREDA E. LYONS, age 73, of Baltimore, MD, died on February 10, 2008 at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, MD. On the first day of March 1934, a new daughter was welcomed into the world of Joe and Nola Dodson. Freda Elizabeth was the second child of Joe and Nola. She had one elder sibling, a sister Francis and two younger brothers, Joe Jr. and John Pascal, the youngest sibling. She grew up in a coal camp in Kingston, WV and, like Loretta Lynn, was a coal miner's daughter. Although she did come from a singing family, she never became as famous as Loretta. Perhaps it was because she enjoyed playing more than singing. She enjoyed, she called it hooking school, visiting the local swimming hole, known as Hang Hook, swinging off the vines and jumping into the water like Tarzan or Jane. Seriously though, she was a very good student and enjoyed being a cheerleader in both middle and senior high school. She graduated in 1952. After graduation, Freda and her girlfriend Crita, moved to Maryland to look for work and stayed with Crita's aunt and uncle. They both got jobs at Edgewood Arsenal. At that time, Freda's career was short lived because the pair of them decided to attend a dance at the local American Legion Hall where she met her soon to be husband of 53 years, Fred (Jim) Lyons. Jim and Freda were married on May 23, 1953. Their marriage was soon enriched on June 1, 1955, with the birth of their first born, Brenda Leigh. In 1956, a great loss occurred when a still born baby girl was delivered to the anguished and saddened couple. In November 1957, a second daughter, Beverly Ann, arrived healthy and strong. With the arrival of a beautiful baby boy, William Frederick, in February 1959, the Lyons clan was completed. Freda remained at home enjoying the role of loving wife, mother, and homemaker until her youngest child, Willie, started school. At that time, she again ventured into the working environment to help support the family. She worked at various companies, to include Poly Seal, a plastics company and Silver Top Manufacturing Company, where she assembled Aluminum Products for Mobile Homes until 1977 when health problems forced her into early retirement. In June 1987, after many years of paying rent, Freda and Jim were able to purchase their first home located at 136 Lariat Road, Baltimore County, where they lived the rest of their lives. Most of you are aware that Freda suffered many illnesses during the last 30 years which caused a lot of physical suffering. During this time she mostly suffered silently but remained a compassionate, hopeful, positive person with a caring attitude. She could look beyond her own suffering to be there for other people with her thoughtful wisdom and kindness. Lest we forget, she could also be strong and stand tall when compelled to effect responsibility and accountability when the need arose. During her lifetime, she enjoyed many activities, which included cooking and dancing. Also having competed in many local contests, Freda was an awesome shuffle board player. The sadness which no parent wants to face occurred on July 15, 2004, when their daughter Beverly Ann succumbed to leukemia. On February 7, 2007, Freda's husband of 53 years, Jim, suddenly passed away. On February 10, 2008, at 8:40 a.m., Freda Lyons departed this world with the belief that she is in God's hands and that with his tender mercy he welcomed her with open arms. Her heart and mind were filled with the peace that passes understanding as she slipped through her final days here. As we say goodbye to Freda, may we all remember her as the loving, kind person God shared with us. Let us try to remember not her sorrows but the happy memories and good times we were blest to share
with her. And, let us not be sad, but instead rejoice that her suffering has ended and she has now moved into the mansion God has prepared for all of us.

Mrs. Lyons is survived by a son, William Frederick Lyons of Baltimore, MD; a daughter, Brenda Leigh Gibson of Baltimore, MD; a brother John Pascal Dodson of Oak Hill, WV; four grandchildren, James A Lyons of Baltimore, MD, Kimberly J. Scott, Charles T. Scott Jr., and Andrew Penner, all of Florida; and two great-grandchildren, Aiden Scott of Florida and Gauge Lyons of Baltimore, MD.

Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058.