Emma Rita Byars

1923 - 2021

Emma Rita Byars passed away Saturday, June 19, 2021, at her son's home in Pensacola Florida. 

She was 97, born Nov. 13, 1923, in Irvington, to parents, Dessie May Adkisson and Murray Brentlinger Smith.

 She graduated from Irvington High School and was salutatorian of the Class of 1940. Her extensive education included: A Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama, Florence, Alabama, with a major in education, listed in Who's Who; A Master of Arts in Education and later an  EdS degree from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.

A classroom teacher, she taught in schools in Alabama and Kentucky, teaching 27 years in the Elizabethtown Independent School system in Elizabethtown.

 She wrote for the educational journal, New Horizons and was a pilot teacher for Kentucky Educational Television. She was a local "Teacher of the Year," 1981-1982.

 She was a past president of the Elizabethtown Education Association, also a past president of Elizabethtown Hardin LaRue Retired Teachers Association and past president of the Fourth District Retired Teachers Association. She was a past Regent of the Captain Jacob Van Meter Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Memberships included Severns Valley Baptist Church, Elizabethtown Women's Club, League of Women Voters, Hardin County Democratic Woman's Club, Town and Country Homemakers, Daughters of the American Revolution, Elizabethtown Retired Teachers Association, Fourth District Retired Teachers Association and Kentucky Retired Teachers Association.

 Since her youth when she started her family, Rita was both a professional educator as well as a totally devoted, loving mother and wife. She was loyal to a fault to her family, finding time to provide a wonderful home with unceasing love and support for her husband and children; all while maintaining her own superior standards in teaching and guiding the lives of others. In work or in life, Rita was never, ever, unprepared or uninformed regarding tasks at hand.  Her family often went to sleep happy and secure with her working into the night ironing clothes for school the next day or grading papers and preparing for the next day's teaching and science projects. She made time for both her life's loves, family and students.

 Her life's work was done with much love but without complaint, with strength that certainly was inspired by God and notable to her family, friends and coworkers. Her determination to provide superior results in everything and anything she faced was obvious as well as admirable. Former students often complimented her as "tough but fair" and appreciated. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Murray and Dessie Smith; her husband, Samuel Thomas Byars; her son, Samuel Brentlinger Byars; and a sister, Wanda Smith Bishop.

Survivors include her son, Thomas Lynn Byars (Sandy); three grandchildren, Caitlin Rita Byars Carrigan (Sean), Callie Smith Byars and Thomas Corey Byars; and three great-grandchildren. She also was a beloved aunt to Jim, Ken and Steve Bishop.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, at Trowbridge Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. Burial follows at 2:30 p.m. in Raymond Cemetery in Raymond.

Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

To express an online condolence and to light a candle of remembrance, please visit trowbridgefh.com.

Trowbridge Funeral Home in Elizabethtown is in charge of arrangements.