Jean Meyer

Jean Alyce (ne? Lein) Meyer Lyons, 85, died peacefully Wednesday evening, December 15, 2021 having been in failing health for some time. She was born August 26, 1936 in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of J. Richard and Josina Johannsen Lein.

A graduate of Clinton High School, Jean was a pianist and organist. She began playing organ at the early morning service at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton when she was just 15 years old. Her father would listen to the radio broadcast and inform her later if she had made any mistakes...telling her she had to play her very best when the service was being broadcast. She learned to play nearly perfectly. In her first marriage, she lived in Clinton, Freeport, IL, Beloit and Appleton, WI, and Lima, OH and Buffalo Grove, IL. She was a full-time organist at the church she attended in each of those cities, beginning in Freeport, IL. She played with passion, to the Glory of God, and was beside herself when she was lucky enough to be playing a four manual pipe organ.

Jean also played piano at the luncheons of many service organizations while living in Lima. In later years after moving to Buffalo Grove, IL she played part-time in the church she attended and substituted at several other churches. After retiring to Ellijay, GA, she played piano for her church there and again substituted at other area churches.

She worked as a bookkeeper at Pillsbury Co. in Clinton and after moving away from Clinton, was primarily a housewife, mother and church organist. She was an accomplished seamstress, making her own suits and dresses and dresses for her daughters. Jean won several sewing contests in Iowa during the 1950s and 1960s. She sold Avon for a period of time and was always involved in Welcome Wagon/Neighbor and Friends groups, and was a member and past president of the Lima Women's Symphony Orchestra Guild during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jarold Lein, her first husband, Wayne Meyer, and her second husband, James Lyons. She is survived by her sister JoAnn (Peter) Bryant of Cedar Rapids IA, sister-in-law Paulette Lein of West Bloomfield, MI, daughter Vicky Meyer Burkett of Portage, MI, son Steve Meyer of Ellijay, GA, daughter Laura (Dustin) Wingate of Vanlue, OH, and son Scott (Sue) Meyer of Houston, TX, and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Also surviving, are step-children Natalie (Randy) McCrory of Rogers, AR, and Kevin (Jennifer) Lyons of Cedar Rapids, IA.

Jean is also survived by the following grandchildren: Joshua (Tanya) Meyer of Gibsonburg, OH, Ryan (Jennica) Burkett of Lawrence, MI, John Henry (Carly) Burkett of Decatur, MI, Zachary Meyer and Alexander Meyer of Houston, TX and Tyler Wingate and Travis Wingate of Vanlue, OH, and step-grandchildren: Jason (Rebecca) McCrory and Chelsea (Ryan) Elam of Bentonville, AR, Adam Lyons of Ames, IA, Allison Lyons of Des Moines, IA, and Reece Suckow of Cedar Rapids, IA.

She is also survived by the following great-grandchildren: Katelyn, Maizie and Madelyn Meyer, Riley and Tristan Pacak, Collin, Bridgit, Nolan, Raegan and Lincoln Burkett, and step-great grandchildren Shayla, Adriana and Malachi Tucker, Xoe and Xander McCrory, Nella Elam and Tucker Suckow.

There will be no funeral service. The family will hold a private service at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Hope Lutheran Church Building Fund, 3295 Old Highway 5 South, Ellijay, GA 30540 in Jean's memory.