Mary Lyons

Mary (McNamee) Lyons, 85, passed away quietly at home on January 8, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born October 27, 1938 in Oshkosh, the daughter of Florence and Thomas McNamee. One of nine children and one of two sets of fraternal twins, her childhood was full of family and excitement. After graduating from Sun Prairie high school, she began to work as a secretary and receptionist, finally landing at Pharo Heating where she was working when she met her husband, Don.

She married the love of her life on November 19, 1960, in Madison Wi. They had many adventures together including boating, visiting with friends and family and one time, camping their way to Las Vegas in a Triumph sports car. They were blessed with two children, Dan (Brookh) Lyons of Green Bay and Julie Speropulos (Robert) of Mauston and three grandchildren, Victoria, Mathias and Hunter. Over the first few years of their 63+ year marriage, they lived in Madison, but eventually moved outside the city to Fitchburg where they planted their roots, opened the business and raised the family. When she was not running the office of Lyons Heating, she was doing something for her family or friends. She loved to laugh and make people smile.

As a young mother she would make pancake breakfasts for her kids in shapes of basketballs, panthers, mickey mouse and many other shapes. She was a great cook and holidays were always an amazing celebration, full of joy, love, laughter and of course, incredible food. She loved to garden, can and cook and shared her joy and knowledge with anyone who asked. In the late 70s she took up macramé (and the entire living room) and would make hanging planters and her specialty, the wise old owl to give away as gifts. She loved to sew, and when the kids were little, she would make clothes for the family, always keeping them looking dapper. In later years, she would take up quilting and would make gorgeous quilts & wall-hangings for family and friends.

She loved to bowl & golf and was in several leagues and played many tournaments (She didn’t win many though. LOL). For many years the winters were filled with snowmobiling throughout Wisconsin with friends and neighbors.

She loved the Badgers and the Packers and rarely missed a game. They held season tickets for Badger football & basketball for many years and she watched them till the end. Don and Mary loved to travel and celebrate their life. They organized football trips to watch the Badgers, including one to the 1994 Rose Bowl with friends to support the Badgers and supported them as boosters for years. Mary and Don would often travel in the winter. For years, they would load up the truck & camper and drive to visit family in Arizona, then shoot off to Texas or Mexico for a month and then swing over to Arkansas, where they eventually bought a second home.

During the summers they lived in Prairie Du Chien, on the Mississippi river. Days were spent full of sun and fun. Boating and barbequing was the plan nearly every day. Friends from all periods of her life would come to visit and they had many friends that purchased permanent places near them on the “Gold Coast”. Eventually they bought a horse ranch in the bluffs above the river and moved to Prairie to live on “the ranch” full time. Shortly after, they purchased a home in Florida and began wintering there. (Although she liked to snowmobile, she really didn’t like the cold!)

In 2018 they moved to Mauston to be closer to their children. She spent her final years here, peacefully watching the wildlife and the water, especially the hummingbirds.

She is preceded in death by her Mother and Father, sisters, Betty & Josephine and brothers, Paul, Harland, Pat & Joe. She is survived by her husband, Don, children, Dan (Brookh) Lyons of and Julie (Robert) Speropulos; grandchildren Victoria, Mathias and Hunter, as well as her twin brother Michael (Rene) McNamee, and her sister Annette, as well as many other nieces, nephews and God-Children. She is additionally survived by her special sister in law, Sandy McNamee who traveled many times to visit in the last few years, and her “adopted” daughter Shelle Waller who has been part of the family for 50+ years.

There are not enough words to express how great Mary was as a wife and mother, and how much she will be missed.

A special thanks to her niece Nancy, who unselfishly stood by Mary’s side and helped the family so Mary could spend her final days at home, surrounded by her loved ones.

Mary never liked being the center of attention and per her wishes there will be no services. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.