Blanche H. Byrd, age 88, of Brownwood passed away, Tuesday, February 2, 2016 in Brownwood, Texas.  Graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2016 at Cross Cut Cemetery in Brown County, Texas with Kevin Morton officiating.

Blanche was born on January 6, 1928 in Healdton, Oklahoma to Velmer Dean Howe and Anna Elizabeth Spires-Howe. Blanche went to elementary school at Fox, Oklahoma grades 1-6 then was double promoted when she moved from Oklahoma to Odessa, Texas where she completed grades 8-9. Then the family moved to Brady, Texas where she graduated from high school.  After finishing high school she went to college at Howard Payne University in Brownwood where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree & her Master of Education Degree. Blanche’s employment as a teacher enabled her to teach at several different schools. She taught third, ninth and tenth grade English in Cross Plains, Texas. She taught ninth and third grade English in Brownwood, Texas. She taught ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade English and Art in Rising Star, Texas.

She was actively involved in numerous organizations and churches. She was a member of the Cross Cut Methodist Church in 1947 to 1953 then the church joined Cross Plains United Methodist Church in 1953 where she was still a member until the present. She was a past president of the Cross Cut Community Association; past president of the Cross Cut Homecoming Associations; A Charter President of Kappa Delta Pi at Howard Payne University (an honor society for future teachers); President of Omega Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma (an honor society for women teachers); and former member of Phi Delta Kappa at Howard Payne University (an honor society for educators).  She was also a Texas State President of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Association Auxiliary; Matron of the Cross Plains Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star; Secretary/Treasurer of the Cross Cut Cemetery Association; Classroom Teachers Delegate to the National Education Association Convention in San Francisco, California; Life member of Texas State Teachers Association and Life member of the National Education Association; A member of the Brownwood Chapter of Eastern Star; Member of the Howard Payne Alumni Association and the Texas and Brown County Retired Teachers Association. She was the Assistant Director of the Heart of Texas Literature Center in Walker Memorial Library at Howard Payne University; Member of the Board of the Brownwood Public Library and the American Library Association;  and Member of the Tanglewood Garden Homeowners Association. She was presently the Assistant Director at Howard Payne University’s Literature Center in Brownwood, Texas.

She married O. B. Byrd on December 18, 1946 in Brownwood, Texas. They celebrated 57 years together before he preceded her in death on May 11, 2004.

Blanche is survived by her sister, Anna Mahan of Woodson, Texas; 8 nieces and nephews, Donna Wampler of Bedford, TX; David Fore and wife Rena of Graham, TX; Jesse and wife Kammi Fore, also of Graham; Patty Williams Taylor and husband Dave of Meadville, MO; Judy Williams and Andy of Austin, TX; Terry Mahan and wife Teresa of Santo, TX; Mike Mahan and wife Brenda of Woodson, TX; Cheryl Sullivan and husband Gary, also of Woodson, TX.

Blanche was preceded in death by her parents, husband, O.B. Byrd and son, O.B. Byrd, Jr.