ED BYRD

SIKESTON, Mo. -- James "Ed" Byrd, 81, died Sunday, June 17, 2001, at Clearview Nursing Center.

He was born April 22, 1920, in Kuttawa, Ky., son of Samuel Louis and Rosie Lee Sanders Byrd. He and Betty Jo Crowell were married Aug. 15, 1942. She died April 20, 1994.

Byrd was a dispatcher with Malone and Hyde 27 years. He was a member of Tanner Street Church of God.

Survivors include a son, Dr. James Byrd of Chesterfield, Mo.; five daughters, Phyllis Bliesner of Ashburn, Va., Ruth Catlin of Kansas City, Mo., Dianne Turner of Boston, Mass., Sharon Stark of St. Peters, Mo., Myra Byrd of Fenton, Mo.; a sister, Genevieve Castleberry of Bertrand, Mo.; two half sisters, Vela Covey and Wilma Harbison of Sikeston; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at Ponder Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Tanner Street Church of God, with the Rev. Carl Addison officiating. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery.