Sandra Lyon
September 22, 2010
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Lyon, Sandra, 56, LSCSW, ended her long battle with cancer and passed away from us on Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at her home under the care of Harry Hines Hospice with members of her family present. Sandra began her career as a volunteer filling food sacks for the poor at the Kansas Food Bank. Her honest and sincere devotion to the underserved in this community was evident early and she began work at United Methodist Urban Ministries (UMUM) thereafter. She was a largely unrecognized but passionate advocate in Wichita for the poor, homeless and underserved. In the early 90s she was responsible for establishing a program providing free medical and later, free dental care for the poor at UMUM. That program later became todays Grace Med here in Wichita. After returning to college to obtain her Masters degree in social work in the late 90,s, she was hired as the executive director and later CEO of Episcopal Social Services (ESS) in Wichita and, while there obtained her State Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker certificate allowing her to bring mental health counseling services for the clients at ESS. Sandra led ESS through a troubled and contested County condemnation proceeding against the former ESS building to make room for the new arena and looked forward to leading ESS into its new location with new challenges. ESS continues to provide services to over 300 persons per day through its food, employment, teen intervention, representative payee, and other programs at its present and temporary location at Second and Washington largely as a result of the professional ESS staff managed by Sandra in a fair, honest, and compassionate manner. She was, after all, a strong soul, dedicated to speaking up for those unable to speak up for themselves and bringing food, clothing, and other essential services to them. She will be missed by many. She is survived by her mother, Anne Allen; husband, Ronald Lyon; sister, Catherine Consiglio, brother, Marc Allen; son, Christian Parker; all of Wichita, sister, Susan Allen of Dallas Texas; step daughter; Erin Lyon and step son James Lyon (Safia); granddaughters; Olie Lyon and Ceslie Parker: nephews: David, Jonathan and Joseph Consiglio, all of Wichita. A celebration of her life given for others will be held at Saint James Episcopal Church, Wichita, on Saturday, September 25 at 11:00 a.m. A memorial has been established with Episcopal Social Services, 1005 E. 2nd, Wichita, KS, 67214. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
My sympathy to the family. She was a well loved professor at WSU where I had the good fortune of having her teach a number of my social work classes. A caring & loving individual. Thank you Sandra–you will be missed. Dave Pfannenstiel-LBSW-class of ’08.
I just wanted to share with you how much Sandra meant to me. During 2008-2009 school year, I was a Masters of Social Work student at WSU and I was doing my practicum at ESS with Sandra. She taught me so many valuable lessons during that year; lessons that could never be taught in a textbook. She must have thought I did an ok job b/c she hired me when I graduated this past year! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see Sandra much since I came back. I just hope she knew how much she meant to me and to so many students that came before me. I just wanted to leave this message for you, as her family, to let you know that Sandra touched so many people in so many different ways. How better can someone live life than that? She will be missed by many, and many have memories they will cherish for many years to come. I pray that your memories of Sandra comfort you when you need it the most.
Ron – I am so so sorry that this has happened. As Kent said – our door is always open to you. Take care and stay strong and know that we care. Dalese
Catherine, Your sister was a very special person. She was such a gentle yet resolute fighter for the medically underserved. Wichita has benefited from her life, and I will miss her. Dr. Joe Meek.
We are so sorry for your loss. May God comfort you and help you through this time of grief. Kathy and Jeff Luttrell, friends of Catherine Consiglio
To all of the family, I extend my deepest sympathy and prayers and to honor Sandra, a strong, bright and faithful servant whose life and witness of service touched many people. It was and is an honor and privilege to have known her and to have shared a few years with many of you in our common ministries to those in need.
Dear Family Members of Sandra, My heartfelt sympathies go out to you in the loss of Sandra. She was a teacher of mine at Wichita State University as a social work student and I took every class I could from her! I remember when her husband spoke in a class and she had that twinkle in her eye as she watched him talk to our class! I have often used her as an example for being a true social work advocate serving with humility the truly underserved in our community. I will miss her gentle spirit greatly and offer my heartfelt thanks for sharing her with us. With much sorrow and gratefulness for her life, Taunya, a former student
Dear Family, I grieve your loss of wife, sister, daugter, aunt. . . friend. Words cannot express my sadness for you. Sandra was very dear to me and I loved her.
I will miss you, Sandra. You were a great social worker and you helped many, many people. I wish we hadn’t lost you so soon.
Sandra and her commitment to serving the poor was a gift to us all. I was a honor to know her.
To The Lyon Family, You may not know what tomorrow will bring but know this-love will always be with you as will the prayers of those who care.
My deepest heartfelt sympathy for your loss. Please let us know if you need any help.
Sandra worked for me in my dental practice when Christian was a young boy. I enjoyed the time she spent in our office and was sorry to see her leave but I know it was her passion to serve less fortunate persons and she then went to UMUM. We worked together even then when she needed a dentist to care for someone in need of dental services and she knew that our office would take them. I am sorry that I was out of town and unable to attend Sandra’s service. It was a shock for me to learn of her battle with cancer. The last time I saw and talked with her was at a concert at Prairie Pines a couple of years ago. To Christian and Anne Allen, the only other family members I knew, but for the rest in the extended family as well, my heartfelt sympathies to all of you in your loss. It is a community loss as well. In your sorrow, I trust you will remember the happy person I recall when I remember Sandra. God bless and comfort you all.
Sandra, You were such a great professor at WSU, and I learned so much from you. Thank you fr all you have contributed to so many lives. Praying for Sandra’s family and friends!