Derrel Lyon

A visitation and memorial service for Derrel Eugene Lyon, 82, of Chico, Texas will be 6-8 pm Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at Jones Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport, officiated by Pastor Rick White. Derrel passed away Monday, October 29 in Denton.

Derrel was born in Vernon, Texas November 6, 1935 to William and Mary (Merrifield) Lyon.

As a child, Derrel’s ‘career’ was delivering the weekly newspaper and he soon became known as the Pony Express in Chico.

He worked in oilfield construction for most of his adult career.

Derrel loved to spend time outdoors fishing and gardening, and was an excellent cook.

He had a monkey named Chico, who was dear to his heart. In fact, looking around his home, photos could be found in abundance, and even outnumbered photos of his own children.

He was an avid and entertaining storyteller, with Derrel often being the main character of these fabricated stories of him being a brain surgeon, professional Dallas Cowboys football player, etc.

Derrel was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Mary Lyon, and sister Ozelle Nena Gall, and his precious monkey Chico.

He is survived by his wife Virginia Lee ‘Ginni’ (Humbert) Lyon of Chico; son Jimmy Lyon of Orange, Texas; daughters Teresa Heth of Bay City, Texas, Tereana Ottis and husband Paul of Bay City, and Billie Slusher and husband Robert of Edna, Texas; stepsons Rick White and wife Leea of Rhome, Texas and Gary White and wife Teresa of Keller, Texas, Gregg White and wife Cheryl of Southlake, Texas, and Todd White and wife Vicki of Austin, Texas; grandchildren Heather Lyon, Anna and Nicolas Heth, Blayne and Blake Sparks, James, Tiffany, and Nathan, Amy Turner, Alexis White, Gary Lee, Gregg Michael, Brittany, Gregg, Kris and Justin White, and Taylor Hackworth; and 12 great-grandchildren.