Don L. Byrd, 74, of Ridgely, TN, died at Hillsboro Rehab & Health Care in Hillsboro, IL on Thursday, November 27, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. He was on born November 29, 1939, in Knoxville, TN to Charlie Wiley Byrd and Pearl Mae (Cravens) Byrd.
He married Virgie Mae (Johnson) Byrd on September 29, 1956, in Waterloo, IL. He was a coal miner for Monterey Coal Co, but also worked on the railroad and was a bull rider. Don raised animals, loved to hunt and fish, was a poultry inspector, read western books, and made jewelry. He was proud to be a Cherokee Indian and was nicknamed Eagle Man. Don loved his family and he was known to them as Papa, Dad, Pa, Boo Boo and Grandpa.
He is survived by his spouse, Virgie Byrd of Bunker Hill, IL; daughters, Verna (Anthony) Germanceri of Greenville, IL, Mary (Lance) Myers of Brighton, IL, Peggy (Roger) Kraner of Wood River, IL, Donna (Greg) Ferguson of Bunker Hill, IL; son, Don Byrd, Jr. of Gillespie, IL; 8 Grandchildren; 11 Great Grandchildren; sisters, Patricia “Sis” Boisjoli of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Joyce Faye Strong of Beaver, OK, Flora Janice Byrd of St Louis, MO; brother, John Allen Byrd of Alabama, and Anna Urbano of Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada who he loved like a sister.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Joyce Evelyn Byrd in infancy.
Visitation services will be on Saturday, November 29, 2014, at Assembly of God Church in Bunker Hill from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. His funeral service, which will be a celebration of life, will be on Saturday, November 29, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at Assembly of God Church in Bunker Hill, IL.
Memorials are suggested to Assembly of God Church Bunker Hill, IL.
Kravanya Funeral Home, Bunker Hill, IL is in charge of the arrangements.
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