Jeanne Friou Lyle, 86, of Dallas went home on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Heritage Assisted Living in Plano, TX. She will always be remembered as a caring mother, wife, savvy businesswoman, and a thoughtful friend to all who knew and loved her. Jeanne was preceded in death by Robert Sr., her husband of forty-one years. She was born Billie Jean Friou in Cleburne, TX on February 2, 1927 to Harry Latimor Friou and his wife Alta Martha Stephens. Jeanne survived her brother Hoyle Friou, and both her sisters Rita Draughon and Vera Berry. She attended The University of Texas, thereafter becoming the Executive Assistant to Dallas District Attorney Henry Wade. Her accomplishments here were many including the personal hiring and staffing of Dallas County's first female Assistant District Attorney, Louise Raggio in 1954. Following ten years of civil service, Jeanne established and successfully operated the Lyle & Associates Court Reporting Firm. She and her husband Robert "Bob" Lyle married in 1962 and lived a very robust life together until his death in March of 2003. They enjoyed travel, cattle ranching, political involvement, and life on Lake Texoma all the while keeping a full business and social calendar. Jeanne loved Jesus and remained active as long as she could with the Park Cities Baptist Church since her joining in 1962. She always wore gloves and "covered her head" as that is "what ladies do." Survivors include her son, Robert Lyle Jr., his wife Susan, their son Robert III, and Susan's boys, Joseph and John Cantu. Other survivors she loved include Bob's children Mark Lyle and Kathleen Lyle Kelsey as well as their children: Karrington, Brett, Cole, Michael, Kelli, Blake and Kurt. The family will receive friends from 6 pm to 8 pm in the evening of Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at the Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX 75225. A Funeral Service will be in the above location at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 6, 2014.
Published in Dallas Morning News on Feb. 5, 2014