Feb. 26, 1924 – Nov. 14, 2014

RUSTON — Funeral services for Penelope Craig Matthews Lyon, 90, who died Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, in Clinton, S.C., were Sunday at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Clinton.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Monroe.

Burial will follow in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes.

In early 2015, a memorial service will be at Covenant College.

Lyon was born Feb. 26, 1924, in Monroe, the daughter of Will B. and Penelope Smith Matthews.

She spent 27 years at Covenant College at Lookout Mountain, Ga., working in various capacities with her favorite being that of college hostess.

Through those years, she worked with thousands of students, faculty and staff.

Lyon is remembered by them for her faithfulness, her gentle spirit, and her love for her Lord.

Her life exemplified the college’s motto, “In all things Christ preeminent.”

While her large family was not geographically close, Craig enjoyed traveling to their homes and welcoming them to hers. She spent hours on the phone every week catching up with all of them. In addition to caring for them, Craig had treasured friends all over the world whom she remembered fondly. She enjoyed sharing her famous custard and her beautiful roses from her garden with her loved ones. The churches in the communities in which she lived were the center of her life. She loved serving others and worshiping with fellow believers. It is often said of Craig that she rarely met a stranger because she could usually connect them to someone she knew.

Truly Craig was welcomed into heaven with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Lyon was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert Edward Matthews; two brothers, Will B. Matthews and Arthur H. Matthews; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Lyon Kipness; and a special nephew, Charles Edwin Ledbetter.

Survivors include her children, Paul Lyon, and wife, Jane, of Charlotte, N.C., Arralee Lyon Hays of Baton Rouge and Steven Chad Lyon and wife, Barbara, of Irvine, Calif.; brother, Neill S. Matthews of Shreveport, La.; special aunt, Katherine D. Yates of Albuquerque, N.M.; 10 grandchildren, Craig Lyon and wife, Lana, Chris Lyon and wife, Hallie, Kim Spier and husband, Phil, Henry Hays and wife, Melissa, Presley Whidden and husband, Brett, Bud Lyon, Meg Hanna and husband, Matt, Robert Stiglets and wife, Michelle, Tara Walsh and husband, Tom, and Elizabeth Thompson; and 18 great-grandchildren whom she adored and prayed for daily.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Covenant College, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, GA, 30750.

Online condolences can be made at kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.