Nancy Lyons Beck

Nancy Alberta Lyons Beck, 89, passed away Friday, August 4, 2017 at Torrance Memorial Hospital from end stage kidney disease. Nancy was born April 3, 1928 in Akron, Ohio to Kathleen and Edward Lyons. She had one sister, Dorothea and one brother, Joe. She moved to Florida with her family in 1942. Nancy was an outstanding student. In Junior High she received the American Legion Medal. In High School she won a Spanish Essay contest and read her winning entry over the radio. She was an avid member of the Civil Air Patrol. She also was her high school Salutatorian .
Nancy moved to California in 1955 in search of new adventures. In 1957 Nancy met Ernie Beck at a New Year’s Party. They were married a few month later on March 23, 1957. Nancy was a stay at home mom to Linda, Karen, Bill, and Jim Beck. She devoted her life to taking care of her family and others. She spent year driving kids back and forth to school, sports, music lessons, scouts, and other events. At the end of the day, everyone looked forward to her home cooking.
Nancy had a soft spot for animals and was always making room for the pets her children brought home. She also loved yearly vacations in the redwoods in Klamath California and Sunday brunch at the Sizzler with Ernie and friends. Nancy loved Thomas Kincaid. She collected his artwork and made many beautiful Thomas Kincaid cross-stitch pictures. She also loved collecting porcelain dolls and plates.
Nancy was well known for her fantastic cooking and beautiful decorated cakes. She won numerous awards for her decorated sugar cubes and sugar Easter eggs at the Los Angeles County Fair. She also loved to do intricate counted cross-stitch pictures, and many family and friends have been blessed with her artwork. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved to crochet.
Nancy was preceded in death by her mother, Kathleen Margaret (Jackman) Lyons, father, Edward Bechtold Lyons, sister, Dorothea Lyons Heil, brother, Joseph Lyons, and two grandsons, Nathaniel Timmothy Kerns and Stephen James Beck. She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Ernest Lee Beck, children Linda Beck Friedman, Karen Beck Kerns, Bill (William) Beck, James Beck, 8 grandchildren, and 10 great- grandchildren. She was excited about the upcoming birth of her first great-great grandson.