Jerry Ray Byers

Jerry Ray Byers, of Raytown, Missouri, passed away on March 21, 2008. He was born on April 13, 1948, in Leeds, Ala., to Clara Mae Batton and Owen Ray Byers. He spent his childhood in Leeds and Birmingham, Ala., cheering on the Tide. Jerry worked hard in the restaurant industry for most of his life. He first went to work with Taco Bell back when they were just starting out and opened stores along the West Coast. He then went to work for Ponderosa, where he remained for over 25 years. He worked in different capacities during those years - both on the company and the franchise sides. He got to live in many different states during his tenure with Ponderosa: Louisiana, Colorado, Michigan, Utah, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio and enjoyed many adventures along the way. Jerry loved the people and the challenge of restaurant work but decided it was time for a change and became a collector with NCO in Lenexa, Kan., where he has been employed for the past six years. Jerry is preceded in death by his mother, Clara Mae, his father, Owen Ray, his grandparents Albert and Alice Scott and Louis and Daisy Hill. Jerry is survived by his wife, Rebecca, his stepmother Helen Byers of Kalamazoo, Mich., his sons Jerry Byers of Raytown Mo., Troy and Danielle Byers of Wilkes-barre Pa., and Gary and Jackie Byers of Mechanicsburg, Pa. He is survived by his grandchildren: Dustin and Jordan Byers of Raytown, Mo., and Tristan, Mackenzie and Kyndall Byers of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He is survived by his brothers and sisters: Robert, Donald, Ronald, Terry, Louis, Norma, Janice, Martha and Maria. He is survived by his in-law family: Sandy, Ann, Karen and Chris. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends as well. Visitation will be at Heartland Funeral Home, 6113 Blue Ridge Blvd., Building 2, Raytown, Mo., on Tuesday, March 25, from 6-7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be at First Baptist Church of Raytown on Wednesday, March 26, at 10 a.m. Please make memorial contributions in Jerry's honor to Kansas City Hospice. Jerry was a gentle man who could strike up a conversation with anybody and become fast friends with everybody. He loved sports and was a walking encyclopedia of sports trivia. He could tell you every single winner of the Heisman trophy award- what year they won, what college they attended and what position they played. His passion was football and he was a die-hard Alabama Crimson Tide and Denver Bronco fan. Jerry's family and friends will miss him dearly but are better for having shared this earth with him. Roll Tide!! (Arr.: Heartland Cremation and Burial Society, 816-313-1677.)