Margaret Dobbins Byars

1910 - 2003

Margaret Dobbins Byars departed this life on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2003.

Funeral: 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the mausoleum at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Ron Sutto, officiating. Visitation: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Johnson's Funeral Home in San Angelo.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials and gifts may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo; or to a charity of choice.

Margaret Dobbins Byars was born Oct. 4, 1910, in Atlanta, Ga., to Thomas Lee and Martha Alberta Dobbins. She graduated as valedictorian from Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio. After graduation, she moved to Galveston, where she met and married Dr. Perry J.C. Byars Jr. on June 24, 1939. She was with her husband at Scofield Barracks, Hawaii, during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was evacuated to Galveston, until her husband returned from the war. In January 1946, Dr. and Mrs. Byars moved to San Angelo. Margaret was the head librarian and an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of San Angelo for many years. She was very active in many organizations including the West Texas Medical Auxiliary, serving as president, the 32 Club, serving as president, and a member of Ziphron Daughters of the Nile. During her 45-year membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, she won an award for her presentation of her Pearl Harbor survival experience. She was a member of the Southwest Watercolor Society, SASOPS and the White Mountain Art Association of Arizona. Her watercolors and other art won many awards during her lifetime. When she was 86 years old, one of her many stitchery art pieces was selected by the Arts for the Aging for exhibition in the Texas capitol and their yearly calendar. Her extensive global travels included art tours and classes.

She was preceded in death by her parents and loving husband, Dr. Perry J.C. Byars Jr.

Survivors: Children, and grandchildren, who include her son and his wife, Alan and Barbara Byars of Midland and their children, Elizabeth and Jason Fenimore of Dallas and Alan Byars Jr. of Seattle,, Wash.; her daughter and husband, Martha and Victor Wetherholt of Canton, and their son, John Hull, of Wheat Ridge, Colo.; and her son and his wife, Dale and Cynthia Byars of Fort Worth, and their daughters, Lindsay Byars and Monique Byars; sister, Kathleen Smith and her nephew and his wife, Kenneth and Pearl Smith of Dana Point, Calif.