Jason Byrd

December 30, 1978 - October 15, 2014
Jason Michael Byrd, age 35, passed away on October 15, 2014, in San Antonio, Texas, after a brief illness. He was born to John W. and Mary Beth Byrd on December 30, 1978, in Albuquerque, NM.

Jason graduated from San Antonio's Churchill High School in 1997, attended Schreiner University in Kerrville, and graduated from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos with degrees in geography and history.

Jason was employed by the National Park Service as an interpretative guide at the Missions National Historical Park in San Antonio, including Mission Conception, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada. He was passionate about his work at the Park sites and enjoyed sharing the history of the Missions with visitors from all over the world, up to and including the day of his final hospital admission.

Jason will be remembered for his unfailing optimism and perseverance in the face of many illnesses over the past 20 years due to lupus and kidney failure. He was blessed to receive a kidney transplant in 2009 from a very special and dear friend who provided Jason some truly wonderful years of great health.

Jason is preceded in death by his father John; his paternal grandfather Marvin Byrd; his maternal grandparents Ben and Cleo Munoz; and his uncle Ben L. Munoz. Survivors include his mother Mary Beth Byrd and brother Jeffrey Byrd of San Antonio; grandmother Veva Byrd and uncle Jim Byrd (Mary Ann) of Roswell, NM; uncle David Byrd (LeAnne) of San Angelo, TX; aunt Marjorie Munoz York of Loudon, TN; cousins Bryan, Ben, Kristin and Dwight Byrd and their spouses, as well as many other extended family members.

Celebrations of Jason's life will be held at the Mission San Jose Granary, 6701 San Jose Dr., San Antonio, on Friday, November 14, 2014 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm; as well as in Roswell, NM, on Sunday, November 30 at 12:00 noon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2801 W. 4th St.

In lieu of flowers, please consider passing it forward by donating blood in Jason's memory, and/or registering to become an organ donor in life or death. Memorial contributions may be made to DonateLife.Org to help fund life-saving services.

The family is very grateful to the dedicated and valiantly determined medical staff who worked to care for Jason over the years to the very end, and for the many kindnesses extended by them, the NPS staff & volunteers, many friends, clergy and neighbors.