Mary Ellen Byerly

Mary E. Byerly, 86, of Ossian passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2020. She was born on August 25, 1934 in Watseka, Illinois, a daughter of the late Charles and Pauline (Coyle) Bard. She attended Ossian High School. She married Leon Byerly on December 7, 1951, he preceded her in death on April 7, 2016. She worked in the Norwell High School kitchen, and then was the bookkeeper for Byerly Masonry. She was an excellent seamstress, sewing clothes, gowns, and wedding dresses for many. She loved IU basketball, cross-stitching, collecting baskets, and vacationing in Florida in the winter. She was a member of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne. Surviving family include her children, Sheila (Rick) Park of Ossian, Sandra (Arthur) Helm of Corpus Christi, Texas, Kathleen (Joe) Woods of Huntertown, Steven Byerly of New Haven, and Robert (Susan Childress) Byerly of Valparaiso; grandchildren, Katie Todd, Abby Watkins, Matthew Helm, Laura Reber, Christopher Reber, Tara Sprunger, Gay Stoppenhagen, Amber Geisel, Leon Byerly, and Mercedes Byerly; 17 great-grandchildren; one great great-grandchild; and brother, William (Gwen) Bard of New Haven. Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Bard; sister, Opal Kreigh; one great-granddaughter, and one great great-grandson. Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home, 120 West Mill St., Ossian with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. The service may be viewed online at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elzey-Patterson-Rodak-Funeral-Homes/164122170274228. Social distancing and masks will be in place. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery, Ossian. Memorials may be made to the Calvary United Methodist Church or Northern Wells Food Bank. Condolences and memories of Mary may be left online at www.elzey-patterson-rodak.com.