Betty J. Lyons, age 66 of Malvern, died early Friday morning, December 28, 2007, in the Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock. She was born in Willow, Arkansas on January 15, 1941 to the late Walter M. and Iona Jones Cox. Reared and receiving her early education in Willow, she moved with her family to Malvern in her junior year of high school. Betty later earned her associate degree from the Draughn's School of Business in Little Rock. She worked for State Farm Insurance for over 20 years, most of that time being with the E. O. Cooper Agency, where she dealt in sales and claims. Betty had been an active member of Third Baptist Church, where she attended the Sunshine Sunday School Class. She was an avid reader, and loved to sew and do needlepoint. Betty was a doting grandmother who did her best to attend all the ballgames, recitals, and other activities in which her grandchildren were involved.

She is survived by her husband, James Lyons of Malvern, to whom she was married on November 26, 1960 at St. Paul United Methodist Church; by two daughters, Becky and her husband Andy Burks, and Phyllis Lyons, all of Malvern; by two brothers, Charles Cox of Malvern, and Billy and his wife, Opal Cox of Rockport; and by two grandchildren, William and Elizabeth Burks.

Her funeral will be at two o'clock Sunday afternoon, December 30, 2007, in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Dr. Verne Wickliffe officiating. Interment will follow in Cypress Cemetery at Willow.

Pallbearers will be: Gerald Skinner, C. M. Phillips, Joe Bittles, Alan Overturf, Don Walsh, and Jim Paul Franks.

Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons of Third Baptist Church.

A visitation will be held on Saturday afternoon from four until six o'clock at the mortuary.

Memorials are requested to the Lottie Moon Christmas in care of Third Baptist Church, Malvern.

The family will be headquartered at the Burks residence, 2139 Taylor Street in Malvern.

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