Obituaries Obituaries (October 26, 2005)

Joyce Johnson

Former Portola Valley resident

Joyce Townsend Johnson, who worked for many years at Animal Crackers in Ladera and the Valley Pharmacy in Portola Valley, died September 8 after a year long battle with cancer. She was 75.

Ms. Johnson was born and raised in Bellevue, Washington. She was a 1951 graduate of Stanford University and began her teaching career in Palo Alto. She moved to Ladera in 1955 and lived in Portola Valley from 1959 to 1977 when she moved to Los Altos Hills.

When her children were in school she was active in the Portola Valley PTA and supported many sports activities in the valley. She was a member of the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary to the Children's Hospital during the 1960s and 1970s, volunteering at Allied Arts Guild.

Ms. Johnson enjoyed playing paddle tennis and tennis and was an avid sports fan, say family members.

She is survived by her children Elisabeth Alden Whitcomb of Fremont, Kenneth McLeod Johnson of Menlo Park, and Todd Townsend Johnson of Los Altos; sister Patricia Townsend Long; and seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Pets in Need, the American Lung Association or the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Raymond Lyon

Real estate developer

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Raymond Richard Lyon of Atherton is scheduled at 3 p.m. Tuesday, October 25, at Stanford Memorial Church. Mr. Lyon died October 18 at Stanford Medical Center. He was 76.

Mr. Lyon was raised in Escondido and spent his summers in Idyllwild and Del Mar. He attended the University of California at Berkeley for two years.

After spending two years with the U.S. Army in Korea, he finished his undergraduate work at UCLA and attended the Stanford University School of Business.

After a brief period in his father's business, he purchased a seat on the Pacific Coast Stock Exchange and became involved in several entrepreneurial areas as a small business investor and real estate developer. He was involved in a landmark California Supreme Court case, Lyon vs. State of California, involving property rights along non-tidal waterways.

Mr. Lyon and his wife, Margaret (Nin), moved to Atherton in 1969. He was a patron of the San Francisco Opera and once performed as a guard in a performance of Verdi's "Il Trovatore."

He traveled widely to Europe, Japan, China, Vietnam and India, as well as on family trips. His favorite local places were Stanford's libraries, bookstore, the Memorial Chapel, and Kepler's book store, say family members.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margaret (Nin) Lyon of Atherton; children Grant Lyon of Atherton, Trish Lyon and Todd Lyon of Ross, and Suki Lyon Eyre of Portola Valley; brothers Melvin Lyon of Santa Barbara and Ed Lyon of Escondido; and eight grandchildren.

The family prefers memorials be made to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford or to a favorite charity.

Clara Butler

Former dietician

Clara C. (Mickey) Butler died October 12 in Menlo Park at age 79. A native of San Francisco, she was a dietician at Doctors Medical Clinic in Modesto, prior to her retirement to Redwood City.

She is survived by her son, David Butler of Menlo Park; sister Josephine Gurnsey of San Francisco; two grandchildren and one-great-grandchild.

Private services have been held. Donations in her memory may be made to a favorite charity.

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