Prentice Rodney (Ron) Byers || Obituary

Prentice Rodney (Ron) Byers passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Feb. 16, 2024, at the age of 85. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home with Mark Sanders and Jerry Speight officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour before the service.

Ron was born on Jan. 12, 1939, in Paris to Prentice Lee and Ruby Bean Byers and the oldest brother to Linda Sue and Gary Lee. Ron grew up in Paris and spent lots of time at his grandparent’s grocery store, Byers Grocery. He attended Paris Schools where he met his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Vaughan. Ron and Phyllis both graduated from Paris High School in 1957 and were married within weeks on June 28, 1957. Ron & Phyllis were blessed with three children, Ronald Wilson, Deborah Lou and Kristin Ann.

Ron served his country in the Army National Guard and Army Reserves. He served 7 years and was honorably discharged as a specialist E 5 in 1963. He attended and graduated from Dallas Bible College in 1966. After living in Dallas, Ron uprooted his family and moved to Colorado to pastor a church. In 1974 the Byers family made their way to Texas and ended up moving to Detroit, TX where Ron became camp director for Jan Kay Ranch Christian Camp. After 6 years serving at Jan Kay, the family ended up settling in Paris.

Ron attended NE Texas Police Academy and soon became a Paris Reserve Officer as well as the Police Chaplain for Paris PD. Ron was a senior minister for 4 churches in Texas & Colorado. He was also a chaplain for McCuistion Regional   Medical Center in Paris and an Industrial Chaplain for MemCo Inc. in Dallas.

Ron wore many hats over the years including Principal for Paris Christian Schools and a long-time substitute teacher for Paris & Detroit ISD’s. He was the owner & facilitator of Lone Star Defensive Driving School. He had a passion for cooking with a specialty in BBQ. He was the owner of two restaurants, The Smokehouse and Hickory Inn. Ron also had a love for motorcycles and was a member of the Over the Hill Motorcycle Gang.

You could always find him sitting in front of the tv, with his team hat on and snacks cheering on his Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers or Texas Longhorns. Ron loved his family fiercely and lived a long full life.

Ron is survived by his son, Ronald Byers and wife Allison, daughters; Deborah Byers, Kristin Kitchens, grandchildren; Courtney Peugh, Happy Moore and husband Michael, Michaela Kitchens, great grandchildren; Sophie Moore and Gaitlin Peugh, also surviving is sister-in-law, Nanette Byers, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis, parents, sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Jack Davenport, brother, Gary Byers, son-in-law, Michael Kitchens, nephew, Greg Davenport, and grandson, Kristopher Dale Byers.

Named as pallbearers are Scotty Byers, James Martin, Danny Huff, Jonathan Huff, Dustin Huff, Curtis Wright, Dewayne Nance, and Michael Moore. Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Ray Walters, Jeff Faber, Jeffrey Davenport, Dan Davenport, and the senior adult men’s group of First Baptist Church, Paris, TX.

Instead of flowers, Ron’s wish was to have donations made to the Gideons International or Jan Kay Ranch Christian Camp in Detroit, TX.