CFA News

Geary Lee Byrd was born in Lawton, Oklahoma to Lloyd Byrd and Vallene Baxter on June 26, 1946. Five years later in June of 1951 he was blessed with a little brother, Thomas Johnson. Geary and Tom would become best friends, with a few mishaps along the way. Geary would spend a lot of his younger years between Lawton and Duncan, Oklahoma. He had a strong work ethic and started working during high school at the local Humpty Dumpty grocery store. He graduated from Lawton High School in 1964. After graduation he attended the University of Oklahoma where he received his Civil Engineering degree. While studying at OU two life altering events took place. The first he participated in the ROTC, which helped launch his time in the Army where he served one tour in Vietnam as a 1st Lieutenant from July 1970-July 1971. The other major event was he met and fell in love with the love of his life Barbara Miller. Barbara and Geary were married on Jan. 24th, 1970 at the First Christian Church in Hugo, Oklahoma. They went from college sweethearts to celebrating 54 years of marriage, love and adventures. They were destined to be together and he won her over with his loving, naturing characteristics and his cooking skills. Their love story would take them across countries and on all kinds of journeys like hot air ballooning and white river rafting. Geary’s life took an unusual turn when he married Barbara for he quickly found himself working and traveling with the largest traveling circus of his time. Many believed that Geary, with his sweet caring nature and lack of any circus knowledge would not last on the circus. Not only did he embrace the circus life but with his hard work ethics and his resilience he thrived in the circus world. Over the years he helped make improvements that would make the daily strenuous routine of the circus run more smoothly and more efficiently. Perhaps not in the conventional way but he used his civil engineering studies throughout his lifetime. Geary and Barbara welcomed their first daughter, Traci Lea, in April of 1972 and completed their family with the birth of their second daughter, Kristin Marie, in September of 1975. 

A part from the circus, Geary’s true passion was fishing. This passion took him on adventures all over with dear friends and family. Geary always loved spending time with his family playing pool, playing cards or taking a dip in the pool. When he found a quiet moment, he loved to read. He and Barbara have always enjoyed watching sports but especially OU football. But what he absolutely loved more than anything was enjoying his five beautiful grandchildren. Whether he was watching them play soccer or football or listening to them play in the band or sing, he was their biggest fan. He spent countless hours watching Sponge Bob with all five of them. He was so proud of each one of them and loved them more than anything. 

Several years ago Geary started to show signs of memory loss. This cruel disease eventually was the cause of his death. He passed away on Nov. 4, 2024 surrounded by loved ones. 

He was proceeded in death by both paternal and maternal grandparents, his parents Vallene Yarmuk (James Yarmuk) and Lloyd Byrd (Jeanie Byrd), his brother Thomas Johnson, two sisters Cheryl Herman and Susan Burns and his uncle Harold Byrd (Joyce Byrd). He is survived by his loving wife Barbara Byrd, his daughter Traci Byrd of Hugo, his daughter Kristin Parra of Hugo (Gustavo Parra), five grandchildren Bryce Parra, Brandon Cavallini, Cameron Cavallini, Peyton Parra and Blake Parra. Siblings: Pennye Byrd Shafer (Rod Shafer) of Ardmore, OK, Trudy Blaylock (Keith Blaylock) of Kallispell, MT and Vickie Estrella of Jackson, MS. Nieces and Nephews: Carrie Johnson Horvath, Kevin Johnson, Tracy Herbig, Lydia Estrella, Dylon Herman, Haley Herman, Danielle Eder, Summer Burns and Katie Burns. A host of cousins, great nieces and nephews, extended family and friends. 

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to one of the following organizations: 

Tunnel to Towers t2t.org In memory of Geary Byrd (tracilbyrd@yahoo.com) 

Endangered Ark Foundation endangeredarkfoundation.org

Services on Saturday Nov. 9th. 2024 At 10:00 A.M. at the Lift Center 1005 S. 5th. St. Hugo, Oklahoma 74743