Bessie M. Maxwell Byers
Bessie M. Maxwell Byers, 97, of Petrolia passed away with her family at her side Tuesday afternoon at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.
Bessie was born in Richland Township, Venango County, Dec. 10, 1920. She was the daughter of Walter R. and Ella Pearl Barger Maxwell.
Bessie graduated, with honors in 1939, from Emlenton High School.
She enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, and was an avid Steelers fan.
In her earlier years, Bessie had been employed at Cress Department Store in Macon, Ga., while her husband was serving in the military.
Bessie served on the election board in Parker Township, Butler County, and retired from the Karns City School District as the cafeteria manager at Bruin Elementary School.
Bessie was married to Merle Richard Byers on June 12, 1940, at St. John Reformed Church in Chicora. Mr. Byers preceded her in death on Sept. 30, 2007.
Surviving are four children, Earla M. Crawford and her husband, William, of Saxonburg, Kay Merlene Uenking and her husband, Thomas, of Chicora, Richard A. Byers and his wife, Diana, of McKinney, Texas, and Daryle L. Byers and his wife, Miriam Ruth, of Karns City. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, four great- great-grandchildren, and two step great-grandchildren, as well as a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Darla Lou Byers, who died June 28, 1941; two sisters, Flora Moore and Anna Knox; two brothers, Earl and Frank Maxwell; and a sister-in-law, Dorothy McIntyre.
BYERS — Friends of Bessie M. Maxwell Byers, who died Tuesday, April 24, 2018, will be received from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Road, Chicora.A funeral service will follow from the funeral home at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dennis Barger, pastor of the Scrubgrass Stone Church in Emlenton, officiating.Interment will be in Bear Creek Cemetery, Petrolia.Memorial contributions may be made to the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 237, Petrolia.For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.
