EARL WILLIAM BYERS
Earl William Byers, age 89, of La Belle died on November 10, 2010, at La Belle Manor Care Center. He was born on December 2, 1920, a son of Francis Stephen and Ella Belle West Byers, on the family farm eight miles south of La Belle. He attended Brush College rural school his first eight years, graduating from La Belle High School with the class of 1939.
Mr. Byers was a lifelong farmer, living for seventy-five years on the farm his grandfather had purchased in 1957. He cared for his parents until their deaths. He was a member of the La Belle Christian Church.
On December 24, 1975, Earl was married to Ida Tjaden Sparrow. In 1976 he had a new home built, replacing the one built by his grandparents. He was exceedingly proud of his new home and family. He was a devoted husband and papa.
Due to Earl’s ill health the Byers retired to La Belle in December 1995 and sold his beloved farm. He later served two terms on the La Belle City Board as Alderman for the north ward.
Surviving are: his wife, Ida; three children: Teresa (Gene) Parker of Yuma, AZ, Keith (Melody) Sparrow of Ortonville, MI, Ronda (Scott) Wolter of Knox City; three grandchildren, Jarrod (Brenna) Phillips of Canton, Thor and Athena Wolter of Knox City; one great-grandson, Brendan Phillips of Canton; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Byers of Yorkville, IL; one nephew and four nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Harry Kermit and Kenneth Wayne Byers.
Funeral services were held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 13, 2010 at the Coder Funeral Chapel in La Belle, Missouri.
Visitation was after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 12, 2010 at the Coder Funeral Chapel in La Belle with the family receiving friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Burial was in the Newark Cemetery at Newark, Missouri. Casket bearers were Keith Sparrow, Jarrold Phillips, Thor Wolter, Quentin Lindsey, Dalton Hoffman and Thomas McGraw.
An expression of sympathy in memory of Mr. Byers may be made to the Newark Cemetery, American Lung Association and or Heartland Resources. The memorials may be left at or mailed to Coder Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 151, La Belle, MO 63447
