Joy Lyons, 56, a wife and the mother of three daughters passed after a long battle with cancer last week. Former Park City Mayor Gary Madison described Lyons to Glasgow Daily Times: “She was always willing to help with any project ..." Over the years in service “she helped look for lost visitors ... [and] treat injured visitors” said Brad McDougal, who started working at Mammoth Cave at about the same time as Lyons.
Lyons began her career at Mammoth Cave in 1979 as a seasonal park aid. In 2004 she was promoted to chief of program services for the park’s division of interpretation and held the position retiring in 2013.
“She did a lot for Mammoth Cave National Park, particularly the cave (and) the African-American history,” Bob Ward said. In a previous Daily Times’ article, Lyons said: “Mammoth Cave has an extensive black history and we’re not even identified ... [that way]. That was one of my objectives: to get the story of Mammoth Cave’s slave history out to the public, but also to make it a little bit better known within the National Park Service as well.’” Her book “Making Their Mark: The Signature of Slavery At Mammoth Cave,” earned Lyons an Award of Merit from the Kentucky Historical Society in 2007.
Aside from her work at Mammoth Cave, Joy Lyons was also involved helping develop the Bell’s Tavern Historical Park for the city of Park City. "She’s sure been a true friend. She will be missed” said Former Park City Mayor Gary Madison.
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