Lonnie Earl Byers

Our beloved Lonnie Earl Byers, 76, passed from this life on Feb. 4, 2008, at home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Lonnie was a kind and generous man who loved his family, loved to work, loved taking care of his land and cattle and was an avid hunter. He worked for Tarrant Regional Water District from 1961 to 1993. He helped to build Cedar Creek Lake.Lonnie was born July 25, 1931, in the Whitehall Community in Van Zandt County to James and Mattie Byers. He lived most of his life in Payne Springs then moved to the Cottonwood Community in 1978. He attended Payne Springs and Eustace schools. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Eustace. Lonnie is survived by his wife of 30 years Kay Byers, children; Lonnie and Judy Byers, Nelda and David Woodruff, Lori and Jack Houghton, Toni Rogers and Phil and Debbie Rogers; grandchildren Kasie and Larry Pickens, Kristin Byers, Alicia Griffith, Mason Houghton, Heath Houghton and Cassie Rogers; great-granddaughter Ashlyn Pickens; brothers Jim and Jan Byers and Vernon and Joyce Byers; sisters Claudia and J.T. Westmoreland, Laverne Harper, Bonnie and John Wilson, Hazel and Leon Weaver, Patsy and Bud Ashton, Shirley Works, Edie and Stanley Featherston; sister-in-law, Louise Byers, Gay and Ike LaRue; and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Marvin Byers, Roy Byers Sr. and Nelda MacBoyd Abbott.Services will be held at Moorehead-Melton Cemetery on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m. with Carey Ponder and Jack Houghton officiating. Services are under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Moorehead Melton Cemetery 8405 FM 2709 Eustace, Texas 75124 of East Texas 4111 University Blvd. Tyler, Texas 75701.