Ray Byard

Rosary services for Ray Byard, 78, of Canadian, Texas will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, November 22, 2009 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 23, 2009 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Salibindla Bala Showreddy, officiating. Burial will be in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Hughs Funeral Home of Canadian, TX. Mr. Byard passed away Friday, November 20, 2009 in Canadian, TX. He was born August 31, 1931 in Claude, TX to the late Mr. George Byard and Mrs. Bessie (Case) Byard. He was a 1949 graduate of Claude High School. Ray was a Veteran of the United States Army serving in the Korean Conflict. He married Eugenia Weinheimer on November 28, 1953 in Groom, TX. She preceded him in death on June 19, 2008. They moved to Canadian, TX in 1972 from Ulysses, KS. Ray was a member of Knights of Columbus where he was past Grand Knight and 4th Degree Knight. He worked as a building contractor for many years. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he helped build the bell tower, remodeled the church and was a member of the Men’s Club. Ray enjoyed helping in anyway that he could with the church to where he even donated all of his time. He was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Royce and Dorothy Byard. He is survived by four sons, Stephen Byard and wife Shelly of Midland, TX; Ryan Byard and wife Jana of Memphis, TX; Mark Byard and wife Melinda of Amarillo, TX; John Byard and wife Kelli of Barberton, OH; two daughters, Regina Russell and husband Jimmy of Canadian, TX; Stephanie Francis and husband Glenn of College Station, TX; two brothers, Russell Byard and wife Patsy of Lubbock, TX; Ronald Byard and wife Zoe of Princeton, TX; one sister, Janie Jaramillo and husband Lawrence of Silverton, TX; 17 grandchildren, Tiffany Barter and husband Casey of Borger, TX; Angie Hawkins and husband Joel of Canadian, TX; Branden Francis of Tucson, AZ; Sara Phares and husband Robert of Austin, TX; Lance Russell and Kayla Russell both of Pauls Valley, OK; Willie Nofire of Fritch, TX; Kyler Oles of College Station, TX; Brandon Russell of Canadian, TX; Joshua Byard of Midland, TX; Jacob Francis and Katelyn Francis both of College Station, TX; Justin Byard of Midland, TX; Avery Byard of Memphis, TX; Dominic Byard and Aaron Byard both of Barberton, OH; Karsen Byard of Memphis, TX; 3 great-grandchildren, Dakota Phares of Austin, TX; Brodon Russell of Pauls Valley, OK and Brenner Hawkins of Canadian, TX. The family suggests memorials be made to Hemphill County Hospice, 1020 S 4th St., Canadian, TX 79014.