Happy 94th birthday to the town’s matriarch LaVern Johnson!
LaVern Johnson’s square dance old-time friends threw her a birthday party to celebrate her 94th birthday (Photo by Barbara Miller) 
LaVern Johnson with her sons Ron (left) and Jerry (right).
Brief Bio of Her Services to the Lyons Community
LaVern Johnson is known for being a “key person” in:
saving the high school from closing, preventing the Coffin Top Dam, stopping housing on toxic dumps, expanding the parks, fighting for affordable housing, creating and curating the Redstone Museum, founding the Lyons Historical Society, creating a dog park, fighting against alcohol and marijuana, particularly with kids in mind, and promoting Lyons businesses.
Service to the Town of Lyons:
==Board Trustee for six terms (13 years total) 1999-2006;
==on the Lyons Good Old Days Committee since 1976;
==on the Parks Commission (currently honorary) for 48 years (since 1973)
==President of the Lyons Historical Society since 1976;
and director of the Lyons Redstone Museum since 1979
==columnist at Lyons Recorder: Since 1983, LaVern has kept area residents informed about what was going on in the Lyons in her column: “About Town.”
BIOGRAPHY:
When the McConnell family moved to their Lyons farm in 1928, LaVern was a baby. The house was built by John Reese in 1877. Six kids lived on the farm. The current Lyons High School and the adjoining subdivision are on their old property. LaVern and her husband Mr. LaVerne started the Red Rock Ramblers Square Dance Club in 1958. The Lyons location closed in 2019. Their two sons, Gerald (Jerry) and Ron, grew up in Lyons. Grandchildren: Audrey, Randall and Trevor.
Their square dance friends threw LaVern her annual Birthday Party last weekend. Saturday’s Square Dance held in Windsor, CO by the Red Rock Ramblers and Foot and Fiddle Club celebrated Mrs. LaVern’s 94th birthday with flowers and cake. Dancers came from Nebraska and Cheyenne, and 20 different towns. The next dance is Sat. Aug. 21st, at Club Tico in Fort Collins, with Dean Dederman, Caller\Cuer of Norfolk, NE. Rounds-6 p.m.; Squares 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The family will be having a Johnson\McConnell Birthday\Picnic, Saturday, July 31st at Meadow (LaVern M Johnson) Park. LaVern says, “So the cousins can meet each other..They usually come when you die, but I said ‘I want to see them.'”
We wish LaVern a Happy 94th Birthday! and many more to come. ~~ Watch out for more festivities and a longer bio one year from today when LaVern turns 95 years old! July 23, 2022.
Redstone Museum Open: June 1st – October 3rd
Monday – Saturday: 9:30 – 4:40; Sunday: 12:30 – 4:30
Send Birthday Cards to: P O Box 9, Lyons, CO 80540
