Official Obituary of
J.L. Byas
October 15, 1929 ~ August 3, 2020 (age 90) 90 Years Old
J.L. Byas Obituary
JL Byas went home to be with the Lord on August 3, 2020, at the age of 90 in Oklahoma City. JL was born October 15, 1929, in Hollis, Oklahoma, the son of Clyde Edwin and Augusta Mae Williams Byas, and the grandson of Jonah Lafayette and Kathryn Mitchell Byas, and John William and Elizabeth Catherine Rice Williams. JL was preceded in death by a sister, Vivian Brazell, and a brother, Nolan Byas.
JL retired from Halliburton Services in Duncan after 35 years, where he became the supervisor of the Photo Lab. His photography work was highly regarded, with one of his photos gracing the cover of the Oil and Gas Journal.
He was a World War II veteran who served in the occupation forces of Italy after the war, and later became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
JL enjoyed watching OU football and reading, especially biographies. He also enjoyed playing pool most of his life, including playing at the Senior Citizens’ Center in Duncan. JL was a faithful member of New Hope Baptist Church West in Duncan, Oklahoma.
After completing his service to his country in the armed forces, he returned to Duncan in 1949, where he met and married Roberta Kitchens. They were married for 67 years, until her death in 2017. They had two sons together, both of whom survive him, Jack L. Byas of Duncan and his wife Kandy; and Steven D. Byas of Norman and his wife, Donna. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Shelly Polk and her husband Paul, of Duncan; and Jana Rannberg and her husband Dustin, also of Duncan; one grandson, Jason Byas of Ann Arbor, Michigan; great-grandson, Tyler Polk of Duncan; great-granddaughter, Addi Rannberg of Duncan; and another great-grandson, Christian Rannberg of Duncan.
Friends and family are invited to a graveside service at Duncan Cemetery at 2:00 P.M., Friday, August 7, with services conducted by Whitt Funeral Home and his pastor, Randy Southerland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Stephens County Honor Guard, PO Box 1811, Duncan, OK 73534.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.
JL retired from Halliburton Services in Duncan after 35 years, where he became the supervisor of the Photo Lab. His photography work was highly regarded, with one of his photos gracing the cover of the Oil and Gas Journal.
He was a World War II veteran who served in the occupation forces of Italy after the war, and later became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
JL enjoyed watching OU football and reading, especially biographies. He also enjoyed playing pool most of his life, including playing at the Senior Citizens’ Center in Duncan. JL was a faithful member of New Hope Baptist Church West in Duncan, Oklahoma.
After completing his service to his country in the armed forces, he returned to Duncan in 1949, where he met and married Roberta Kitchens. They were married for 67 years, until her death in 2017. They had two sons together, both of whom survive him, Jack L. Byas of Duncan and his wife Kandy; and Steven D. Byas of Norman and his wife, Donna. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Shelly Polk and her husband Paul, of Duncan; and Jana Rannberg and her husband Dustin, also of Duncan; one grandson, Jason Byas of Ann Arbor, Michigan; great-grandson, Tyler Polk of Duncan; great-granddaughter, Addi Rannberg of Duncan; and another great-grandson, Christian Rannberg of Duncan.
Friends and family are invited to a graveside service at Duncan Cemetery at 2:00 P.M., Friday, August 7, with services conducted by Whitt Funeral Home and his pastor, Randy Southerland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Stephens County Honor Guard, PO Box 1811, Duncan, OK 73534.
Online condolences can be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of J.L. Byas, please visit our floral store.
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