A Celebration of Life for Lyman T. Wiley, 92, Lawrence, will be at 3 pm Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at Cottonwood, Inc., 2801 W. 31st. St., Lawrence. Mr. Wiley died Friday, July 24, 2015, at Bridge Haven at Alvamar.
He was born Apr. 16, 1923, in Lawrence, the son of Samuel David and Anna Mae Griffitts Wiley. He attended Lawrence schools, and graduated from Liberty Memorial High School. Mr. Wiley entered service with the United States Army in 1943, serving in Okinawa, Guam, and Hawaii. He was wounded June 6, 1945, and earned the rank of T/5 and a Purple Heart and Combat Medical Badge. Lyman later enjoyed a long career with Jim Clark Motors spanning nearly 50 years, in the positions of salesman, general manager, president, and human resources manager.
Near and dear to his heart was the work he and his wife, Bryona, and Dr. Vernon and Jessie Branson did to establish Cottonwood, Inc. Both families had disabled sons, and did not believe they should be closeted, as was commonplace in the mid 1950’s. In 1956, the Douglas County Association for Retarded Children (DCARC) held its first classes for the educable retarded children of Douglas County on the third floor of the old Manuel High School at 9th & Kentucky. In 1972, Cottonwood was born, on land purchased by Mrs. Petey Cerf. Lyman’s tireless work to improve education and work opportunities for the disabled earned him the Sertoman of the Year award and admiration from those inside and outside the Cottonwood family. A sure way to elicit a smile from Lyman was to have him reminisce about his efforts to improve the opportunities now available to the mentally challenged of Douglas County.
He married Bryona Pence on Dec. 5, 1942, in Eudora. She preceded him in death, as did his parents, brothers Hugh A. Wiley, Lauren W. Wiley, and William Gale Wiley, sisters Ruth A. Wiley and Helen M. Wiley, and a son, Ted Wiley. Survivors include a daughter, Teri Wiley, Lawrence; three grandchildren, and one great grandson.
In keeping with Lyman’s wishes, the family suggests memorial contributions to Cottonwood, Inc., 2801 W. 31st St., Lawrence, KS, 66047. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.
