Byrd, Louise

Louise James Byrd Words are inadequate to describe the selfless life and spirit of Louise James Byrd.  Heaven received our precious mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Nana, on January 30, 2014.  Louise was born June 13, 1921, to Carl Emmette and Luna Allen James, the 5th of 10 children.   She was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband, William Morrison Byrd, of Bryan, Texas; son-in-law, Gerald Bullington, of Dallas, Texas; two infant brothers, James and Carl Edward James; brothers, Emmette Allen James and Jay Morris James and sisters Luna Mildred James, Mary Marguerite McClain, Hazel Reagan, Dorothy Hobbs and Jeanne Evelyn Humphrey.  Louise graduated from Groveton High School in Groveton, Texas in 1939.  She married W.M. Byrd, the love of her life, in 1940.  They had one daughter, Pamela Marie, born in Riverside, California, in 1944.  Louise made her home in Bryan, Texas from 1949 to 2005 when she moved to Dallas to live with her daughter and be near her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Bryan for 56 years, retaining her membership there after moving to Dallas.  Louise taught Sunday School in the Primary Department of the church of her many first years in Bryan.  Later she served as president of the Amiga Sunday School class for a number of years.  Louise was also Treasurer of the United Methodist Women and member of the Contemporary Study Group at the church.  Louise worked in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at Texas A & M University from 1950 to 1986.  She served under 5 department heads and was awarded several honors.  Among them was “Outstanding Staff Award” in appreciation of outstanding dedication and service in the Department of Wildlife Fishery Sciences for the year 1982-1983.  She, also, received a “Distinguished Performance Award” by an administrative support personal for the year of 1983 given by the Deputy Chancellor for Agriculture.   Louise is survived by her daughter, Pamela Bullington, of Dallas; granddaughter, Ashley Brooks and her husband, Chris, of Dallas; grandsons Bryson Bullington and wife, Louise, of Frisco; Bryan Bullington and his wife, Rachel, of Houston; great-grandchildren Ava and Cameron Brooks; Olivia Bullington and Haley, Willow, and Zeke Bullington; sister-in-law, Evvie James of Mesquite, Nevada.  She, also, has many surviving nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.  She was devoted to her family and will be missed each day by all of them as they carry on her legacy. A Celebration of Life Service was held in Dallas, Texas, on February 8, 2014, at the home of Chris and Ashley Brooks.  Interment is to be at Rest-Ever Memorial Park, Bryan, Texas, following a graveside service to be attended by the immediate family.  To honor the life of Louise, the family requests memorials be made to the American Heart Association, First United Methodist Church of Bryan, Texas A & M University, or a charity of your choice.