Carole Jo Byrd

Carole Jo Crites Byrd, 89, of Oak Ridge passed away peacefully Christmas morning, 2023, in her daughter's home.

Carole Jo Byrd

She was born Sept. 7, 1934, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau to Dr. Woodrow and Jo Ellen Shelby Crites.

She went to grade school in Sikeston, Missouri; moved to Cape Girardeau, where she attended College High; and then moved to Jackson, graduating from Jackson High School in 1952.

She was married to Jack Byrd of Oak Ridge on Sept. 21, 1952. Their union was blessed with four daughters, Deborah Fall Byrd Myers, Carole Patrice Byrd Sherman, Lisa Lyn Byrd Crites and Lucy Lee Byrd Meyer. She was dearly referred to by all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Momma Jo", a name she took on from her own mother. Jack passed away Aug. 2, 2023, a month before celebrating their 71st Anniversary.

Carole Jo loved to serve. She could make the most wonderful banana bread, often sharing it with the residents of Jackson Manor. She loved giving them slices of her banana bread as she visited and assisted when they played Bingo. She volunteered as a room mother at school during holidays for her girls. Everyone loved her. She always came up with fun games. She served in local churches in the past years as Sunday school teacher, Bible school director, and also played piano and organ. She played piano until the age of 87 at Grace Methodist Church in Rockview, Missouri. She also wrote Christmas plays for the churches she was a member of.

In 1974, Carole Jo rededicated her life to Jesus Christ during a Lay Witness Mission at their church. She and Jack spent many years serving as lay pastors for Gravel Hill and Fairview Methodist churches. Together they also traveled to lead teams on Lay Witness Missions. She served as part of the Gideons Auxiliary for many years helping to pass out Bibles and also served as a chapter president in Women's Aglow.

Carole Jo was a member of Oak Ridge FCE (Homemakers Club) for 71 years, and one year received the FCE award for the state of Missouri. She received a milestone pin in 2022 recognizing 70 years of membership. She spent many years serving in charitable capacity positions within the organization. She was historian for the club and also served as president and secretary. She was more than just a club member; she demonstrated what being a devoted homemaker was about, bringing many talents and interests into her home.

She was a talented seamstress who made many clothes for her children over the years. She enjoyed gardening. She made delicious homemade bread and pies. Carole Jo had a keen interest in discovering and learning about flowers native to Missouri and enjoyed seeing them bloom on her property. She was very creative and would try her hand at many crafts and endeavors. Crafting handmade greeting cards for friends and family was a passion. She put hours of time and loads of love into each of her creations. Over the years, Carole Jo taught piano lessons and sold Avon for a short period of time. She loved history and kept amazing family records as she enjoyed researching genealogy. She enjoyed writing poems, and she loved antiques, music and, most of all, her family. She and Jack also enjoyed traveling, especially to the Smokey Mountains area, Florida and to Branson, Missouri.

Carole Jo was a "rock-hound". She loved finding unique rocks to add to her rock garden, and she collected some real gems! But the greatest gem was the person she was. She was thoughtful and cared about others. She had a kind, loving and giving heart. She never spoke ill of anyone. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. She was a jewel, a treasure that will always be loved and adored and now missed.

She was a loving mother of her daughters, the late Deborah (Davy) Myers of Oak Ridge, Carole (Brad) Sherman of Williamsburg, Iowa, Lisa (Brent) Crites of Jackson and Lucy (Randy) Meyer of Biehle, Missouri; grandchildren, Jennifer (John) Dennis, Summer (Scott) Aufdenberg, Benjamin (Stephanie) Sherman, the late Hilah (Brent) Owen, Abigail (Joe) Whitsitt, Jason (Lena) Sherman, Leah (Steven) Ford, Lauren (Sam) Zahner, Madison Crites and Taylor (Tyke) Schubert; great-grandchildren, Samuel, Colton, Allie, Isabella, Hudson, Nile, Emelia, Josephine, Noelle, Beaumin, Caden, Samantha, Evelyn, Ethan, Naidene, James, Sophia, Lucas, Haylee, Levi, T.J. and the late Baby Kysen; and brothers, Mitchell (Nilou) Crites of New Delhi, India, and the late Wilson (Marti) Crites of Jacksonville, Florida.

Carole Jo was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Jack Byrd; daughter, Deborah Byrd Myers; granddaughter, Hilah Sherman Owen; great-grandson, Kysen Zahner; her parents, Dr. Woodrow and Jo Ellen Shelby Crites; and brother, Wilson Crites.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, at the funeral home, with Pastor Brad Sherman and Pastor Gwen Streeter officiating. Burial will follow in Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

If considering a memorial, the family suggests Haitian Island Ministries (H.I.M.), c/o Dr. Steve Smith, P.O. Box 616, Wentzville, MO 63385 — www.haitianislandministries.org — or Gideons International — www.gideons.org.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Carole Jo's obituary article at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.