Obituary of Vernone Frederick Byers

Vernon F. Byers, 94, of West Branch died Monday, November 12, 2007, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2007, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until services. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Vernon’s memory to the Mercy Foundation. Online condolences may be sent for his family through our website at www.gayandciha.com. Vernon Frederick Byers was born October 10, 1913, in Jackson Township, of Henry County, near Salem, Iowa the son of Perry Floyd and Lena Winfred (Taylor) Byers. He attended a one room country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Salem High School on May 13, 1931. After graduation he came to the West Branch area where his family had moved earlier that spring. He helped his father on the farm for a number of years, and the worked as a farm hand for a couple of years. On February 21, 1939, he married Christina Mary Elizabeth Bulechek in Iowa City. The couple farmed northeast of West Liberty, Iowa for over 39 years before moving to West Branch in 1983. He was a prominent cattle and hog feeder in this area. Vernon was a member of the Cedar County Farm Bureau, having served on its board of directors. He was a member of the Cedar County Beef Producers and served on its board, and also was a charter member of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Vernon worked for Iowa Valley Milling in Downey, Iowa for ten years and for Lehman Brothers haymaking operation for five years before retiring. His family includes his brothers, Cleo Byers of Los Alamos, New Mexico and Leland Byers of McAllen, Texas; sisters, Darlene Nevins of Warner, New Hampshire and Carol Slach of West Branch, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Christina on March 21, 2003; and his sister, Thelma Smith. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Vernon’s family and his services.