James F. Byrd

November 30, 1938 – July 30, 2017

James F. Byrd of Moses Lake, formerly of Auburn and Maple Valley, Wash. passed away on July 30, 2017 in Moses Lake, Wash. Jim and his sister Janet were born in Seattle on Nov. 30, 1938 to Frank and Elizabeth Byrd. Jim graduated from Highline High School in 1957.

He was a machinist at American Can Company, retiring in 1992, and later at King County Metro Sewage Treatment Plant, retiring again in 1998. As a young man, he learned to cook in his family’s restaurant, and loved to entertain and feed groups of people. Jim loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman, hunter, camper and gardener. He looked forward to the annual hunting trip and his elk camp was infamous on Bald Mountain, rivaling most outfitters’ camps. He loved to cut down trees with his chainsaw and stack cords of firewood to feed the wood stove. Jim figured there was always a way he could re-engineer and modify an item to fit his needs better. He spent many an hour at the local hardware store looking for just the right item. Nothing was better than playing poker with his grandchildren and taking their money, teaching them all how to bluff the hard way.

He built two homes with his wife in Auburn and Maple Valley along the Cedar River.

Jim was a gentle man whose positive attitude made a lasting impression on all those who knew him.

Jim is survived by his wife Sharon (Hayett) Byrd of 58 years; two children Becky Byrd and Jay (Renee) Byrd; five grandchildren Elizabeth Byrd-Obritsch, Gwendolyn (Peter) Ellis, Michael (Samantha) Byrd, Kyle (Kelsey) Byrd and Jenna Byrd and five great-grandchildren Kane, Brooks, Blake, Cooper and Norah.

Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Kayser’s Chapel of Memories, Moses Lake. Please sign the online guestbook or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory.