Sandra Neale Lyons

Sandra Neale Lyons, formerly of Oxford, passed away on December 12, 2024 at the age of 86.

Mrs. Lyons’ childhood years were lived near Middle River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, where her parents, William and Laurene Neale, and their four daughters, were avid sailors on the family sailboat, Safo, a 60-foot schooner. 

Mrs. Lyons attended Towson High School and went on to do her undergraduate studies at Notre Dame of Maryland University and Loyola University.  She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Maryland.

She began her professional life serving clients in a migrant work camp, a psychiatric hospital, and a county health department.  She then began a successful private psychotherapy practice in Easton, Maryland, and later in Alexandria, Virginia.

She held senior management positions for behavioral health organizations including the Chilton Medical Center, the Lourie Center for Infants and Children, and the Collaboration Council of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Her interest in sailing continued when she purchased a 30-foot wooden Cheoy Lee sailboat named Myrtea.  In retirement she earned a Master Gardener’s certification and continued her studies at Longwood Gardens.  Relatives, friends, and neighbors all admired the gardens that she created at her home, River’s End, on Island Creek near Oxford, Maryland.  Her travels included visits to famous gardens in England and the Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Mrs. Lyons married Charles Lyons in 1988.  Prior to retirement, he held publishing jobs in the newspaper business, including president of Chesapeake Publishing and publisher of the Star (formerly the Star-Democrat), and for 19 years an executive with the Washington Post Company.

Mrs. Lyons is survived by her husband; three sons, Rob, Steve, and Scott Rowlands; one daughter-in-law, Micah Rowlands; one son-in-law, Daniel Gardner; eight grandchildren; and three great grandchildren from her first marriage to Robert Rowlands, now deceased. Her daughter, Judy, died of cancer in 2017.  From her marriage to Charles Lyons, she is survived by three step-daughters, Shani, Jodi, and Kari Lyons; two spouses; and two grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her father, mother, and three sisters.

A memorial service is to be held at Trinity Cathedral in Easton at 1 p.m. on January 4.  Following the memorial service there will be a reception at the Cathedral and a graveside service at Oxford Cemetery.  Burial arrangements are being made by Bolden-Tilghman Mortuary Services.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Sandra Lyons to Trinity Cathedral, 315 Goldsborough Street, Easton, Maryland 21601. 

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