LYLLIS BEVERLY ATHENS

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Lyllis Beverly Athens, 61, was called to her heavenly home on Saturday July 5, 2008 in Long Term Care of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt.

Lil is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Bernice Athens, sister and brother-in-law; Helen and Norbert Engbarth; nephews, Patrick (Lindsay) Engbarth. She is survived by her nephew, David (Laura) Engbarth of White Salmon, WA; niece, Nicole (Paul) Flett of Humboldt; great nieces and nephews, Zachary, Nicolas, and Autumn Engbarth of White Salmon, WA; Savannah and Madison LeMaster of Humboldt.

Lyllis B. Athens was born to Joe and Bernice (Williamson) Athens on August 13, 1946 in George, IA. She graduated from high school in 1964 in Worthington, MN and attended and graduated from Westmar College in LeMars in 1968 and became a schoolteacher. Lil accepted a teaching position in Gilmore City and resided in Gilmore for twenty years and later moved to Humboldt in 1989. Lil was the Chorus and German teacher at Twin River Valley School for over thirty years. She retired in 2000 and bought the old Baptist church and turned it into "Lil's Music Castle" where she continued to teach piano and voice lessons. Lil was a very active member at the Faith United Methodist Church. For many years she served as President of the Faith United Methodist Women. She also played the organ, piano, and sang for many years at the Methodist Church, especially in Gilmore City. Lil had a strong appreciation for music and loved variety. She enjoyed classical, jazz, musicals, and rock and roll. During her teaching years, she really enjoyed working with the students with their concerts and musicals. She also enjoyed sewing, quilting, and was a member of the Honey B Quilters. She had many hobbies: painting, candle making, reading, and cooking to name a few. Anyone who knew Lil knew she was also a huge animal lover. All her life she's had multiple cats or puppies. Lil helped out a lot with the Humane Society.

Many people knew Lil for her beautiful voice, her kind, giving heart, and especially for her sass and spunk. She loved to laugh with her friends and family. Lil was a one of a kind lady who will never be forgotten and will be missed very much.