Lynne McKay (Mitchell) Townsend

Lynne McKay Townsend, 84, of Lyons, Kansas, passed away December 8, 2024, at Hospital District #1 of Rice County, Lyons. She was born November 1, 1940, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the daughter of Darrell and Ruth (Wooddell) Mitchell. Lynne always considered Lyons her home but lived in other places as well. She graduated from Lyons High School, with the class of 1958. Lynne was a homemaker. She was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church, Lyons. Music was Lynne’s passion; she enjoyed playing the piano for church choir, her daughters, and various community events. Lynne was a member of P.E.O. Chapter C, Lucky 13 Bridge Club, Atlanta Homemakers, Lyons Music Club, and Worthwhile Club. Lynne also founded and was a charter member of The Coronado Country Chapter of Adeline Chorus. She enjoyed volunteering her time to help others in every community she lived in. Lynne was very artistic, a seamstress, and enjoyed flower gardening. Family traditions were important to Lynne. She loved having friends and family to her home, which was always filled with love and laughter. Christmas was Lynne’s favorite holiday, so it is fitting that she is home for Christmas with all of her loved ones that have gone on before her. On February 25, 1958, Lynne was united in marriage with Kenneth Bolton, in Wichita, Kansas. From this union of Kenny and Lynne five daughters were born. They later divorced. On June 2, 1985, Lynne was united in marriage with Michael Townsend in Lyons. He preceded her in death on April 13, 2022. She is also preceded in death by her father, Darrell Mitchell; mother, Ruth Lewis; and stepsister, Mary Ann Swigert. Lynne is survived by her five daughters, Kenneta Zwick (Craig) of Grove, OK, Kendra Liska (David) of Lyons, KS, Jayna Morgan (Joe) of Garden City, KS, Jill Erickson (Scott) of Mulvane, KS, and Judy Otto (Jeff) of Wichita, KS; two step-children, Aaron Townsend (Julie) of Arvada, CO, and Debra Diel (Ron) of Wichita, KS; twenty one grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. Funeral service will be at 10:30 A.M., Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church, Lyons, with Pastor Rob Bolton officiating. Burial will follow at the Lyons Municipal Cemetery, Lyons. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M., Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church, Lyons, with family present. Memorials may be given to the Lyons Christmas Bell and Star Fund or the Rice County Council on Aging in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

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