Margaret Lyons Rockwell

A Valentine’s Day baby, Margaret Lyons Rockwell of East Lansing, MI, was born in Owosso, MI, on February 14, 1926 to Milo B. and Mabel (Bower) Lyons, the second of five children.  She graduated from Michigan State University (then College) in 1948 and married Harold William (Rocky) Rockwell on August 1 of that year.  She was preceded in death by him after 58 years of marriage in 2006 and by their son, Charles Edwin in 1966. They resided in East Grand Rapids, MI, until 1977 and Midland, MI, until 2007. 

Margaret was a loving and empathetic mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  She will be deeply missed by her descendants, all Rockwells.  Her children: Jeffra of Ann Arbor, MI; Bill of Richmond, IN; Jim of Northville, MI; and Blake (Kendall Allen) of Detroit, MI.  Her grandchildren: Brian, Andrew, Tom, Jay, Colin, and Lauren; and her great grandchildren: Kayla, Emma, Caiden, Aggie, and Chloe.  She is also survived by her siblings Wilma Mahaney, Eugene Lyons, and Carolyn Holmes; cousins Joan Travis and Ruth Allison; and countless nephews and nieces. Her older brother, Marvin Lyons preceded her in death.

Growing up, she learned from her parents the importance of giving to others. As a very young girl, she accompanied her father to the nearby County Home to provide oranges and blankets to the Civil War veterans living there. During the Depression, she helped her mother make sandwiches for anyone who knocked on their door looking for food.

Margaret was a committed and active advocate for peace and social justice through her organizing, outreach, speaking, demonstrating, volunteering, letter writing, and donating.  She was deeply involved in progressive causes, many through her churches in Grand Rapids, Midland, and Lansing. 

She was especially interested in children.  In the early 1960s, prior to the federal Head Start program, she and a close friend, Virgina Walters, founded an inner-city preschool in Grand Rapids, working with young children and their parents. 

Margaret served on the board of the Michigan United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA); widely promoted UNICEF; and received the World View Award by Delta College. She was active in the League of Women Voters, serving as chapter president and newsletter editor.  During her 10 years at Burcham Hills, she was chair of the Library Committee and Vespers.  She was the first person many of the residents there met.

Margaret was fiercely independent and fearless. Well into her 80s, she drove on long road trips with her dear friend, Gloria Lamkin Webster, to visit family and sightsee. In 1968, she took Jeffra, two exchange students, and two of Jeffra’s high school friends to Washington, D.C. just days after Martin Luther King was assassinated. Despite riots, fires, and curfews, she was determined to show them the history and beauty of the nation’s Capital.

Margaret and Rocky enjoyed countless dear friends, many from high school and college days - close and loyal friendships that would stand the test of time and generations in all the communities they called home.

She was intensely interested in current events and was a voracious reader on a wide range of subjects, especially politics, other cultures, and the experiences of others.  She found joy in nurturing her garden and making pickles and strawberry jam for family, friends, and neighbors.  An astute investor with a sharp and discerning mind, she was often on the cutting edge of new opportunities.

Margaret was an active sportswoman and avid fan, embracing the vigor of tennis, the serenity of swimming, and the thrill of skiing well into her late 70s and 80s. She was a devoted follower of her beloved Spartans, having been a MSU football season ticket holder through the legendary teams of the 1950s, 1960s, and into the early 70s. She even attended the 1966 “Game of the Century” versus Notre Dame just 43 days after giving birth to her youngest child. She never missed a broadcast of MSU football or basketball - including just a few days before her passing.

She was viewed as a role model by many, regardless of their age. She was admired for her unwavering love of family, her deep compassion for others, and her remarkable resiliency and strength. Known for her sharp wit and enduring wisdom, she left an indelible mark on the lives she touched, embodying a spirit of grace, humor, and boundless love and caring.

Special thanks to the many caregivers at Burcham Hills and Careline Hospice, especially in her final few weeks.

Contributions in her name may be sent to the Union of Concerned Scientists, Partners in Health, Project on Government Oversight, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Special Spectators, or the charity of your choice. 

A celebration of Margaret's life will take place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel - Ganders Restaurant, 4747 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, where friends may gather with her family from 1-2 PM followed by a time of sharing at 2:00 PM. 

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