Donald and Grace Irene Lyons Scholarship Fund #00813

To provide annual scholarship awards to Gladwin High School graduating seniors or Gladwin High School graduates planning to attend an accredited community college, college or university. Selection will be based on academic achievement and financial need with other factors such as extra-curricular involvement, work experience, community involvement and personal challenges taken into consideration.

From the fundholder:

Donald Joseph and Grace Irene Lyons, both Gladwin residents, grew up during the Great Depression which had a profound impact on them. It was evident they both learned the value of hard work and the desire to help others early in their lives. Don’s family moved frequently as his father worked in the oil fields and Grace Irene known as “Irene” to her family and friends lived on a farm in northern Gladwin County. Don’s family moved to Gladwin when he was in the 9th grade. He graduated from Gladwin High School and served in the Navy in WWII. Irene was an avid scholar but because of the circumstances of the time and living in a rural area she only attended school through the eighth grade.

Done and Irene met at the local A & P store where they were both employed and married in 1947. Irene continued to work there and retired in the 1980’s as did Don after leaving the store to work for 25 years as a mail carrier for the United State Postal Service. They quietly and conscientiously went about their work, and just as quietly, encouraged other who worked with them. When planning their estate, their desire first and foremost was to help others. They had both wanted to attend college but the times prevented them from realizing that dream so they wanted to grant others the ability to achieve that goal. Irene passed away in 2009 and Don in 2012. Their spirit of quiet generosity lives on as the recipients of their scholarships embark on their life journey.

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Donation Total: $10.00 One Time