Obituary - Sheri Renee Lyon
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Sheri Lyon, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandma, and friend, passed away on the morning of June 1, 2026, at the age of 71, after a strong and courageous battle with cancer.
Sheri Renee Woods was born on March 31, 1955, in Corona, California, to Robert Olyn and Anita Renee Woods. The oldest of three girls, Sheri grew up with a strong sense of responsibility, compassion, and devotion to family. She graduated from Eads High School in 1973, where she was active in church, 4-H, International order of Rainbow for girls, and was a member of the Grand Cross of Color. In her college applicant statement, she said that “Rainbow has been an especially rewarding activity because it has given me an even closer relationship with God.” Her faith in God is what allowed her to accept her diagnosis and embrace each day of life she was given with such courage and strength.
On June 23, 1974, she married the love of her life, Jimmy Lyon — a partnership that would span nearly 52 years, although she would be the first to tell you she did not like him in the beginning. Sheri and Jim began their life together in Eads before moving to Greeley, Colorado, where they welcomed their first two children, Wendi Renee and Matthew Lee. They moved back to Eads Colorado in 1979 so Jim could go to work for CIG. In January 1980, he took a transfer and the family relocated to Wamsutter, Wyoming, with Jim promising Sheri they would return to Colorado before the children started school. Instead, life had other plans: they welcomed their third child, Mark Olyn, and all three children — along with several grandchildren — would eventually all graduate high school with them still in Wyoming. After more than four decades in the High Desert community, Sheri and Jim moved to Oklahoma in late 2022.
During her years in Wyoming, Sheri worked at Desert School, Wamsutter Conoco, Chances R Trucking, and Amoco Pipeline Trucking, which later transitioned through several companies before becoming Plains Marketing, the company she retired from in December 2022.
But Sheri’s true life’s work was service.
Her heart was enormous — the kind of heart that showed up first, stayed the longest, and never asked for anything in return. She prepared meals (she was a wonderful cook), raised money, organized events, and volunteered for any cause that needed hands or heart. She supported school activities long after her own children were grown, helped with beautification & numerous other projects in Wamsutter, and poured herself into community life in both Wamsutter and Table Rock.
Sheri played a pivotal role in founding the Wamsutter Ambulance Service, where she volunteered as an EMT, until her health no longer allowed her to continue in 2021. Even then, she remained deeply involved, serving on the High Desert Rural Health District Board, she helped establish and mentor the director who followed her. Over more than 40 years, she trained EMTs, responded to emergencies, and touched countless lives. The number of people she helped — and the lives she saved — is immeasurable.
After moving to Oklahoma, Sheri quickly found new ways to serve, joining the Modern Homemakers Club, part of OHCE (Oklahoma Home & Community Education), where she continued her lifelong commitment to community service.
Family was the center of Sheri’s world. No matter how busy life became, she made time for annual family vacations. When her children were grown, she cherished Saturday night sleepovers with her grandchildren, taking them to church on Sundays and preparing Sunday dinner for everyone to enjoy. Sheri was the happiest, following and supporting her grandchildren. Jim and her chased them in any sport or activity they were doing and loved every minute of it. Sheri passed away just 13 days before the “FR-AMILY” vacation she had been planning for 50 people — a testament to her love of togetherness and her gift for creating memories. Her family will honor her by continuing that trip to Branson, celebrating the remarkable woman who shaped their lives.
Sheri is survived and will be missed deeply by her devoted husband, Jim Lyon of Cordell, OK; her children Wendi (Robb) Phipps, Matthew (Mysti) Lyon, and Mark (Nichole) Lyon; 13 grandchildren (Jesse, Tyrel (Ashley), Taylor, (Xavier) Piper, Bradlee (Marcia), Kayli, Katie, Hunter, Carter, Koreena, William, Raegan and Markie); 9 great-grandchildren (Lucas, Ashton, Lili, Evelyn, Kipton, Scarlett, Sterling, Santino and Raelynn); her sisters Leanna Collins and Marci (Frank) Miller; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved her dearly.
Sheri was proceeded in death by her parent’s Robert Olyn and Anita Renee Woods, and several other beloved family members.
A service honoring Sheri’s life will be held at her request in Eads, Colorado, on Saturday, June 13th at 10:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church, with burial to follow at the Eads Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to your local EMS, fire department, or home health hospice — a tribute that reflects Sheri’s lifelong dedication to caring for others.
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.