Lillie Oleta Croft Byrd

Funeral Services for Lillie Oleta Croft Byrd, 92, of Kilgore, formerly of Nacogdoches County, will be 4:00 p.m., Monday, April 4, 2011, in the Sunset Chapel of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors in Nacogdoches with the Reverend Darryl Furlow officiating. Interment will follow in Douglass Cemetery in Douglass, Texas.

Mrs. Byrd passed away on Thursday, March 31, 2011 in Kilgore.

Lillie Oleta Croft Byrd, called “Nanny” by her grandchildren, was born in Nacogdoches County, Texas on September 6, 1918, to the late Ell Hanon and Mary Levicie Davis Croft. Lillie graduated Salutatorian of her class from Douglass High School.

On December 29, 1939, Lillie married O.W. “Fat” Byrd of Douglass. They moved to Kilgore in 1959. Lillie worked part time at JC Penney’s and devoted her time as a wife and mother. She was a member of The First Baptist Church of Kilgore, and member of AARP and the Senior Citizens. She enjoyed attending the exercise class at St. Luke’s Methodist Church and traveling with the senior citizen group of First Baptist. Always the life of the party, Lillie loved to cheer her grandchildren and great grandchildren on during their many sporting and school events. She cherished her friendships and family and touched the lives of all she met.

Survivors include her two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Ron Buckrell of Kilgore and Sandra and George Butts of Kilgore; Lillie was blessed with four grandchildren she loved dearly, Shannon Thompson and wife Allyson, Lacy Thompson, Christopher Buckrell and wife Kristi, John Butts and wife Amy. She is also survived by great grandchildren, Cole, Spencer, and Jake Thompson, Ambrey Buckrell, and Cora, Gavin, and Emma Butts; other survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Byrd was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, O.W. “Fat” Byrd; Five sisters, Effie Furlow, Lena Lester, Annie Bell Watkins, Gladys Tindall and Elma Haynes, and one brother, Falcom Croft.

The family would like to give special thanks to Mrs. Byrd’s caregiver Barbara Lear and the Willows staff for all of their loving care.

Visitation will be at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore on Sunday, April 3, 2011 from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.