Dorothy May Byrd

(July 13, 1925 – February 16, 2016)

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FUNERAL SERVICES: 2:00 P.M. Friday, February 19, 2016, at Comanche Funeral Home Chapel.

BURIAL: Oakwood Cemetery

ROSARY: 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 18, at the funeral Home.

VISITATION: 6:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.

Dorothy May (Murphy) Byrd passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at De Leon Nursing Home in De Leon, Texas, at the age of 90 years.

She was born on July 13, 1925, in Liverpool, England, to Frederick George and Florence Gertrude (Jackson) Murphy. She met Joseph Weldon “Jack” Byrd, of Comanche, when he was serving in the United States Army during World War II. They married in Liverpool on June 11, 1944. Dorothy moved to Comanche in December, 1946, with their first child and began life as a farmer’s wife. Three children later, Jack and Dorothy found out he had cancer, and she was widowed at thirty-two. With Dorothy’s faith and determination and the generosity of the people of Comanche, a family thrived.

She worked for Comanche ISD as a paraprofessional for thirty-eight years, ending her tenure there in 2008 as the librarian at H. R. Jeffries Junior High. She loved her job and the students she served. Making sure each one was able to find the perfect book was a joy for her. Dorothy was a 4-H leader and an avid supporter of every activity in which each of her children was involved. She loved to knit and began taking art lessons from Polly Reed later in her life.

Survivors include her four children: Dorothea (Byrd) Ethridge and husband Tommy of Mullin, Paul Byrd and wife Kay of Gustine, Carole Byrd of Elliott City, Maryland, and Anthony Wayne Byrd of Comanche; eight grandchildren: Erin Daniel of Fort Worth, Lee Daniel II and wife Shannon of Euless, Patrick Daniel and wife Sheena Marie Causing of Fort Worth, Melanie Benjamin and husband Kevin of Midlothian, Eric Byrd and wife Carri of Corinth, Deborah Wright and husband Brian of Katy, Travis Ethridge and wife Allison of Katy, and Laston Byrd of Proctor; and eleven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph “Jack” Byrd; parents, Frederick and Florence Murphy; and sister, Rene Murphy.