Elza E. Byars Cemetery: Panther Fork (Simmons)

ELZA E. Byars, 69, Salem, died at 3:30 a.m. Sunday at Salem Memorial Hospital in Salem. He was a retired farmer.

Mr. Byars was born in Jefferson County on Nov. 28, 1907, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer and Mamie (Hawkins) Byars.

On June 29, 1935, he married Edith Burge in Marion County. She died Aug. 8, 1971.

He married Bessie Blankenship of Feb. 27, 1972, in Salem. She survives.

Mr. Byars was a member of the First Baptist Church in Salem, and for 24 years served as Haines Township Clerk in Marion County.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Osborn Funeral Home in Dix, Dr. James Baldwin of Salem, officiating. Burial will be in Panther Fork Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home in Dix after 6 p.m. today.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, Edgar Byars of Texico and Henry Byars of Opdyke; a daughter, Mrs. Lavern (Betty) Austin of Mt. Vernon; three brothers, John Byars and Wallace Byars, both of Texico; Dalmer Byars of Mt. Vernon; three sisters, Icel Bandy of Iuka; Belle Bandy and Edith Robinson, both of Texico; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and a brother.

Published Tuesday May 31, 1977 - The Register-News