VIRGINIA "CAROL" (HARPER) LYMAN

Carol (Harper) Lyman passed peacefully from this world on February 17, 2016, with her sons and daughters-in-law by her side.

Mrs. Lyman was born on Christmas day in 1924, in Lamsing, Michigan, the daughter of Charlie and Alana (Michel) Harper. She graduated from Central High School in South Bend, Indiana during World War II, and deferred her college education for two years to assist in the civilian war effort. She enrolled in Indiana University, where she met her husband Don Lyman, a returning veteran of the European theater. They were married on February 16, 1947, and both graduated from IU that same year. Carol was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta.

Carol and Don resided briefly in Gary, Indiana and Madison, Wisconsin before settling down in Northbrook, Illinois in 1954, where they pursued their careers and raised their sons Greg and Ken. Carol was a middle school English teacher for 25 years.

After her husband's death Carol moved to Durango, Colorado in 1994, where she resided until her death. She loved and doted on her children, grandchildren and their spouses, and was proud of their widely varied activities. They brought great joy to her life.

Carol stayed busy with many charitable activities during the "Durango phase" of her life. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, PEO chapter FX, Durango Friends of the Arts, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a volunteer at the Durango Arts Center, Music In The Mountains and Mercy Hospital. She was a big fan of the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos and was cheered greatly in her final weeks by the outcome of the Super Bowl.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Jane (Harper) Andres, and grandson Jesse Lyman. She is survived by her sons Greg (Patty) of Durango and Ken (Joanne) of Boulder, Colorado; five grandchildren: Cody (Tanya) Lyman of Denver, Elly (Branden) Conley of Westminster, Colorado, Noah (CiCi) Lyman of Denver, Dustin (Kelly) Lyman of Louisville, Colorado, and Whitney Lyman of Broomfield, Colorado. Her great grandchildren were the apples of her eye: Olivia, Wyatt, Naomi, Blaise, Declan and Moses Lyman. Carol is also survived by her brother Mike Harper of Omaha, Nebraska, and many well-loved nieces and nephews.

A lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Durango Arts Center.

Cremation has occurred and Carol will be interred next to her husband at Greenmount Cemetery in Durango. Her family will be hosting a celebration of Carol's life on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. in the Pullman Room at the Strater Hotel in Durango.

Published by The Durango Herald on Feb. 22, 2016.

02/08/2023 EJS