Jessica Lyon

Jessica Faye Lyon, 42, of Des Moines, passed away January 27th at Mercy Hospital due to complications after heart surgery. Jess was surrounded by loved ones. A memorial service will be held Friday, February 1st, at 1:30 pm at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. Jessica was born September 4, 1976, in Des Moines, Iowa. She attended Hoover High School and Central Academy, graduating in 1995. Jess studied International Business Management and French at Central College in Pella, earning her degree in 1999. While in college, she studied abroad, attending La Sorbonne in Paris, France and the University of Granada in Spain.   Jessica was employed at Wells Fargo as an Operations Analyst, where her fluency in multiple languages, attention to detail and strong desire to improve the customer experience made her an outstanding team member. This same desire carried over to McDonald’s where she served in management for decades, fostering an inclusive environment for team members and patrons alike. Her coworkers and frequent customers often became her friends and family. One could often find Jessica with her chicas and chicos. She loved family dinner nights and time spent with her niece, Ahmelia. Her interests included frequenting local eateries as an amateur food critic and attending her favorite watering holes where she often impressed others with her trivia knowledge. She loved a variety of musical genres, especially The Blenders and Mötley Crüe. Jessica enjoyed live theatre, dancing, travel and appreciated all cultures. Her greatest known passion was serving others through her volunteer efforts. In addition to the many hours she devoted to the Ronald McDonald House, she volunteered at Hope’s West Des Moines Outreach Night, and rallied others to volunteer with her in support of the Special Olympics and various fundraising initiatives. Jessica will be remembered for her brilliance, sharp sense of humor, sassy remarks, infectious smile, mischievous laugh and zest for life. She was a lifelong learner and a diversity champion, with an incredible work ethic and steadfast loyalty. Her thoughtful and generous gift giving blessed many. Jessica’s unwavering faith in God was something she welcomed others to experience. She is survived by her two most favorite people in the world- her mother, Terri Lyon, and grandmother, Shirley Thornton. Also surviving are half sisters Jamie Lyon (daughters Ahmelia and Elizabeth) and Katrina Ewald (sons Alexander, Jameson and Trevor) and father, Michael Stephenson. She was preceded in death by her grandfathers Bill Nichols and Robert Thornton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jessica’s honor to the Ronald McDonald House or AHeinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport.