Obituary for Lyla Gene Andrews (Williams)
Lyla Gene Williams was born December 10, 1939 to Kermit and Helen Williams of Leon Iowa and left us to return to her heavenly home on Thursday, July 18, 2019 in her home, after a long illness.
To most people she is known as Genie. For most of her childhood, Genie and her siblings were raised on the farm in Linville, IA. If you saw the photo on her wall she would tell you, "That is my house" . She told us stories how she shared a bike with her sister Karen and spent hours in the tree house built by her older siblings Arnan and Evelyn. They played in the cool clear water of Rockriffle which is also the same river she was baptized in after accepting Jesus as her savior. Sitting on the clay type banks they rolled the clay into marbles that would sun bake for games during their summer school breaks. They spent a great deal of their summer visiting their Grandma and Grandpa Lamb, who were the prime examples of how to be the best at "grandparenting".
Then during her high school years, Kermit brought his family to Springfield to further his teaching degree at SMS. They attended a church down the street from their home and Helen befriended Zula Andrews. Robert and Zula had 4 sons----- know where this is going? It was brought to Tim's attention that he should meet this girl. He agreed to only if they would all be sitting on the yards retaining wall when he drove by. He was home on leave from the Navy and didn't have time to mess around. He returned to his ship a different man.
Even though as we read their letters to each other we didn't find them to be "mushy" but they were romantic in their own right
They tied the knot on January 23, 1959. It was a very cold frigid day but with those two warm hearts produced 3 children- Timmy, Tami and Tonya.
During the years of their childhood, Genie was active in PTA, she served as Missionette leader and also with the women's ministry in their church. She gardened to provide canned goods for her family. Her homemade ketchup was a favorite. They vacationed in many states to experience God's creation.
As their children grew and married they were blessed with 6 grand babies, that thrilled their hearts. Genie said once that it was so overwhelming and her heart felt so full at their first grandchild, how could she love another one the same way, but she did with every one.
Holidays were always special for her. The Easter tradition of following a colored string that went over tree limbs, under the swing, in through the front door and out the back. From the road, the yard looked like a colorful tangled web. At Christmas making gingerbread houses covered with every type of candy. But if you asked those grand babies what was the most fun-it was sleeping under the clothes line blanket draped tent and eating her homemade chocolate fudgesicles. They didn't board at Memaw and Papas house.
From those grand babies came 4 great grand babies .Times became slower for her, there wasn't the sleepovers or activities but her heart still felt the love and her face showed the joy when she saw or held each one.
Genie's life will be remembered by the magnificent paintings that hang on our walls or the quilts that we snuggle under or from the recipes that we we'll eat that came from her kitchen .
She loved her God, her family and her friends. And know that you blessed her life just as she has blessed yours.
Lyla Gene is survived by her sweetheart Tim, of the home. Son Tim Andrews and wife Barbara. Daughters Tami Sherwood and husband Ernie, Tonya Sanders and husband Martin. Grandchildren- Alisha, Matthew, Nicole, Rachel, Austin and Emily. Great grandchildren- Brenton, Bryson Lilly and Harper. Sister Karen Taylorand husband Irvin, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, brother & sisters in law.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Dale Williams and Arnan Williams, sister Evelyn Wooge and Great Grand-daughter Angelina Hope Blakemore.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North, with burial to follow, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. before the services. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to Season's Hospice.
To most people she is known as Genie. For most of her childhood, Genie and her siblings were raised on the farm in Linville, IA. If you saw the photo on her wall she would tell you, "That is my house" . She told us stories how she shared a bike with her sister Karen and spent hours in the tree house built by her older siblings Arnan and Evelyn. They played in the cool clear water of Rockriffle which is also the same river she was baptized in after accepting Jesus as her savior. Sitting on the clay type banks they rolled the clay into marbles that would sun bake for games during their summer school breaks. They spent a great deal of their summer visiting their Grandma and Grandpa Lamb, who were the prime examples of how to be the best at "grandparenting".
Then during her high school years, Kermit brought his family to Springfield to further his teaching degree at SMS. They attended a church down the street from their home and Helen befriended Zula Andrews. Robert and Zula had 4 sons----- know where this is going? It was brought to Tim's attention that he should meet this girl. He agreed to only if they would all be sitting on the yards retaining wall when he drove by. He was home on leave from the Navy and didn't have time to mess around. He returned to his ship a different man.
Even though as we read their letters to each other we didn't find them to be "mushy" but they were romantic in their own right
They tied the knot on January 23, 1959. It was a very cold frigid day but with those two warm hearts produced 3 children- Timmy, Tami and Tonya.
During the years of their childhood, Genie was active in PTA, she served as Missionette leader and also with the women's ministry in their church. She gardened to provide canned goods for her family. Her homemade ketchup was a favorite. They vacationed in many states to experience God's creation.
As their children grew and married they were blessed with 6 grand babies, that thrilled their hearts. Genie said once that it was so overwhelming and her heart felt so full at their first grandchild, how could she love another one the same way, but she did with every one.
Holidays were always special for her. The Easter tradition of following a colored string that went over tree limbs, under the swing, in through the front door and out the back. From the road, the yard looked like a colorful tangled web. At Christmas making gingerbread houses covered with every type of candy. But if you asked those grand babies what was the most fun-it was sleeping under the clothes line blanket draped tent and eating her homemade chocolate fudgesicles. They didn't board at Memaw and Papas house.
From those grand babies came 4 great grand babies .Times became slower for her, there wasn't the sleepovers or activities but her heart still felt the love and her face showed the joy when she saw or held each one.
Genie's life will be remembered by the magnificent paintings that hang on our walls or the quilts that we snuggle under or from the recipes that we we'll eat that came from her kitchen .
She loved her God, her family and her friends. And know that you blessed her life just as she has blessed yours.
Lyla Gene is survived by her sweetheart Tim, of the home. Son Tim Andrews and wife Barbara. Daughters Tami Sherwood and husband Ernie, Tonya Sanders and husband Martin. Grandchildren- Alisha, Matthew, Nicole, Rachel, Austin and Emily. Great grandchildren- Brenton, Bryson Lilly and Harper. Sister Karen Taylorand husband Irvin, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, brother & sisters in law.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Dale Williams and Arnan Williams, sister Evelyn Wooge and Great Grand-daughter Angelina Hope Blakemore.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North, with burial to follow, in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. before the services. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be made to Season's Hospice.