In Memory Of

HAROLD W. BYRD
July 22, 1934 ~ October 28, 2017


Celebration of Life for Harold W. Byrd. will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2017 in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Al Davis, Grace Family Church, Sulphur Springs, TX and Rev. Byron Elmore, Pastor of Calvary Assembly of God, Lawton officiating.

Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.

The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Harold W. Byrd, age 83, Lawton, died Saturday, October 28, 2017 in Lawton.

He was born July 22, 1934 in a little house on Lake Street in Lawton to Homer Lloyd and Rosa Lee (Bennett) Byrd.

Harold grew up on a farm on the East side of Lawton with older brother Lloyd. They fertilized, farmed and fished and fussed and fought. Harold attended Flower Mound School and Central High. He never met a stranger and developed friendships that are still strong today. He learned to work at a very young age.

He started his career working at Fairmont Dairy and Morton’s Potato Chips as a delivery driver. He sold insurance and furniture and delivered gas for Thurmond Curtsinger, “Curt’s Oil”, in 1958.

He met the love of his life, Joyce Smoot Trussell at Humpty Dumpty. She had two little tow headed boys, Johnny and Roger. They all joined in marriage on July 11, 1959 in Lawton. They added a daughter, Pennye in 1961.

Harold decided to sell cars and mentioned to Clinton Herring and Tom Johnson that he thought of selling Chevrolets or Fords. They told him he would get chewed up, so instead he went and joined the Buster Wyatt Lincoln-Mercury Dealership in the early 1960’s. There, he found his niche in selling and his love for cars. Clinton Herring bought the dealership, and Harold worked there until 1971. He moved to Ardmore to take the position of Sales Manager for Ken Milburn Ford.

In the late 1970’s he entered into self employment. He partnered with E. Don Flanagan in the used car business. This business was like none other. They sold numerous cars, helped a lot of people, played cards and perfected the art of “Practical Jokes”.

In 1990 Harold and Joyce moved back to Lawton where Harold resumed working with Clinton Herring Lincoln-Mercury until he retired in 2003. He and Joyce were happily married until her passing from Alzheimer’s in 2009.

Harold enjoyed buying and selling cars, racing cars, restoring cars, watching football and baseball, Gospel music and attending church. He was a member of Calvary Assembly of God.

He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Pennye and Rod Shafer, Ardmore, Oklahoma;

three sons and daughters-in-law, John and Connie Trussell, Houston, Texas, Roger and Nancy K. Byrd, Wiley, Texas and Geary and Barbara Byrd, Hugo, Oklahoma;

grandchildren and spouses, Emily and Nathan Wiebe, Dallas, Texas, Amy and Chris Hopper, Ardmore, Oklahoma, Melissa O’Hanlon Baird, Ardmore, Sally Jo and Tim Woolley, West Orange, Texas, Clayton Scott Trussell of Fort Bragg, NC, Rick and Michelle Herrin and Cameron and Mindy Herrin, all of Purcell, Oklahoma and Traci and Julio Cavillini and Kristen and Gustano Parra, all of Hugo, Oklahoma;

great grandchildren, Hayden Hopper, Kassidy Drake and Addilyn Baird, Ardmore, Addison Woolley, Callie Jo Woolley, Carter Alan Woolley and Reid Prescott Woolley, all of Weset Orange, Texas;

sister-in-law Rita Swick and husband Delbert, nieces, Jennifer Harrison, Colonial Heights, Virgtinia, Roxie Elrod, Dallas, Texas, Debbie Schacher, Lawton, Kim Warren, Lawton, Tammy Haltom, Oklahoma City, Vickie Trudy and Susan Byrd of Montana and numerous other family and friends.

His parents, wife, brother, Lloyd Byrd, sister-in-law, Jeannie Byrd, nieces, Cheryl Byrd and Jeannie Middleton, nephew, Larry Campbell and Valene and Jim Yarmuk preceded him in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Endangered Ark Foundation, P.O. Box J, Hugo, OK 74743.

The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Richard Brittingham, Evelyn Sanders and Staff as well as the Hospitalists and Nurses in ICU at Comanche County Memorial Hospital.


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GUEST BOOK

Bill Barfield of 106 13th S.E. Ardmore, OK 73401 ~ October 31, 2017
*Sorry to hear about your Dad. I can't make the service. My prayers are with you and your family. Your friend, Bill Barfield

Gaby Fernandez ~ October 31, 2017
*I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Harold. I can’t imagine how difficult these times must be for you loved ones. Please remember and take hope in the message God gives us in Acts 24:15, which says “there is going to be a resurrection”. My deepest condolences.

Geri and Mickey Repp of Ardmore, Oklahoma ~ October 31, 2017
*Pennye & Family, So sorry for your loss. Hugs, thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Love, Geri & Mickey Repp

Brenda Kay Baldwin (Moeller) of Lawton, OK ~ October 31, 2017
*Our hearts are broken. He was such a wonderful man. Our mother Jeannie and Step-Dad Gary remained close to him and talked often. He was there for our mom when diagnosed with lung cancer last year. We just heard this morning. Our parents are traveling and we sent the message to them early this morning hesitating knowing how this would impact their hearts. So many wonderful memories. We are so sorry for your loss. Will be praying for everyone to be comforted by the precious living god we serve.

Kelli Knornschild of Arizona ~ October 30, 2017
*We grew up knowing you as "Bird", you were my uncle's best friend, he was Ken Black. His wife Rosie loved your funny, obscene phone calls, she let me answer the phone one time when I was there in Oklahoma. My mom, Lavon Black told great stories of you, and your shenanigans with Ken when you guys were in school. It was an honor to meet you, spend time with you. Thank you for caring for my beloved uncle during his last days, he loved you so, as did Rosie. Until we meet again at the top of that glorious mountain above.

Gladys Cloud Knight of SWEET HOME, Oregon ~ October 30, 2017
*My sincere condolences to all of Harold's family. We were close friends from the Bethel Assembly of God Church in Lawton, Oklahoma with Pastor Claus Davis. His dad, Homer was the Superintendent who showed me my Sunday School Class my scared first time there. My mother, Beulah Cloud & we four kids attended when Pastor Claud Davis' father was Pastor and Claud was still in the U.S. Army. Harold was always such a jokester and made a joke using our church families last names. Maybe one of the Black family will remember it. He would call us & pretend he was someone else using a silly ditty! We all loved that red-head prankster & haven't seen him in years but know he is singing in the Heavenly Choir with family & friends. God Bless!




Memorial Provided By
Becker-Rabon Funeral Home
1502 NW Fort Sill Blvd.
Lawton, OK 73507