BOURBON – Juanita Mae Byrer, 94, longtime resident of Bourbon, passed away at 12:30 a.m. March 6, 2014. She was born Sept. 8, 1919, in Bourbon, to Artie Ray and Eunice Evelyn Deacon Seymour. On Aug. 14, 1938, she married her high school sweetheart, Warren D. “Ham” Byrer, who died March 31, 2004. She was a graduate of Bourbon High School, class of 1938, and for many years was an active member of The Country Church of Bourbon. She had a beautiful singing voice and as a teenager was asked to sing on a radio station, but because of the depression that opportunity was delayed. She sang at many weddings and events. She and Ham sang with Clyde Jake Berger and his wife Wilma in a quartet. They were called the “Hamberger Quartet.” She was a homemaker and always worked alongside Ham on the farm. She was a great mother and grandmother, and she will always be remembered by her family. Surviving are two daughters, Judy Rae (and spouse Roy) Gallinger, and Sally Kay (and spouse Jim) Fawley, both of Bourbon. She was further blessed with five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a sister, Iris Smith, 96, Plymouth; and a half aunt, Kathryn Martin, 97, Mishawaka. She also was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister. Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at The Country Church, 2 miles north of Bourbon at the corner of Ind. 331 and 9B Road, with the Rev. David Gould, pastor of the church, officiating. Calling is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church. The Deaton Clemens Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. ***** Memorials to The Food Pantry at the Country Church, Ind. 331 N. Bourbon, IN 46504; or Hospice and Palliative Care of Marshall County, 112 S. Center St. Plymouth, IN 46563. Condolences may be sent via deatonclemensfh.com
