Byron Glenn Myers was born to Charles Benjamin Myers, of Benedict, Nebraska, and wife, Myrtle Edna (Byron) Myers, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in their farmhouse near Lexington, Nebraska. He was nine years younger than his brother, Robert Byron Myers. His father was a member of the school board and the entire family was active in the community. Byron was a member of Future Farmers of America and 4-H. He was a fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.
He graduated from Lexington High School in the top third of his class of 1943. He had earned all of his credits one year early, but decided to remain one more year in school to graduate with his classmates. United Pacific Railroad awarded him a scholarship in agriculture. With his brother serving in the Army, Byron received a farm waiver to stay home and tend to his father's farm. He worked hard supporting the war effort on the home front, volunteering at the North Platte Canteen and pitching in on the work that needed to be done on the neighboring farms. By the time the War ended, the scholarship offer had expired.
During this time he fell in love with the youngest daughter of the Lexington mail man, Norma Jean Bellew.
They were married May 30, 1948 in Lincoln. The union was blessed with two daughters and two sons. Although they separated in 1975, they continued to love each other in warm friendship and never divorced.
He loved working with his hands, from farming, dehydrator mills, truck driving, building the Oahe Dam to handling explosives for a seismograph company. Through all of this, he provided well for his family, from a trailer to a house filled with comfortable furnishings and delicious food.
In 1965, he moved his family to Phoenix, Arizona for better job opportunities. He built a swimming pool in the backyard and grew beautiful roses in the front yard of his house. This love of gardening continued throughout his life.
The children have fond memories of a loving Daddy, who read bedtime stories followed by bear hugs during the week and sang a rumbling bass during church hymns on Sundays.
He was a Christian who taught his children to be thankful for each day. A big, strong man, he demonstrated that it's okay to cry at the sound of a children's choir, when reading classic poetry or any other time. And that dancing is good for you. At the supper table, he often read a newspaper article to his family and encouraged discussion. He enjoyed teaching math, literature, English, philosophy, penmanship and history. He encouraged creativity from science fairs to shop class projects. He also helped home school his grandson, Justin. Because he loved to travel, the children recall many camping trips filled with exciting discoveries and learning outdoor survival skills. He rode a bicycle most of his life and brought his family along, encouraging them to be as active as possible. Byron's greatest gift to his children and grandchildren was to instill in their hearts a love and pride in their family history and heritage.
After a heart attack brought retirement in 1988, he built a bicycle with 144 gears and rode it across the nation.
He visited his cousin Dean Myers in Missouri, saw his niece and her family in Tennessee, rode through Lexington and Gothenburg a few times to visit friends and family, and had many adventures he loved to share. In 1997, he rode his bicycle from Texas to Phoenix to visit his daughter.
In recent years, Byron lived in his own apartment home in Phoenix. He decided that nursing homes weren't for him and his daughter accepted the tremendous task of being his caregiver. But of course, she couldn't have done this without the help of every loving member of his family. In his final days, Byron smiled and slipped away peacefully in the cradle of his family's love.
Like his parents, brother and his dog, Mickey, Byron coped with heart disease. He believed in cardiac research and treatment for humans and canines. He participated in fund raisers for this cause. His pacemaker will be donated to a veterinary hospital to save a waiting dog's life. He was also a donor to save human lives.
Survivors include his son Dennis Myers, his daughter, Sharon Myers Taylor and her husband, Karl; his grandsons, Justin Taylor and Dwaine Myers; his grand daughter Denina Myers Geistlinger and her husband, Marlow; and his great grand children Kaylah, Brandon and Brittany Geistlinger; niece Margot Myers Spore and her family; nephew R. Michael Myers; sister in law Marjorie Bellew Block and her family, and his shih tzu, Shortcake.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1960, his mother in 1980, his brother in 2003, his sister in law Gertrude Koolen Myers in 1998, his wife in 1996, his daughter Linda Carole Myers in 1951, his son Steven Douglas Myers in 1970, and by his special friend, Nancy Geho.
Memorial Service to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local humane society or animal shelter and inform the family of your donation online at the link below. Online condolences may also be sent. For an online tribute created by Byron's grand daughter, go to:http://www.youtube.com/user/dgeistlinger
