Nelma M. Byers

Nelma M. Byers was born May 1, 1924 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Clint A. and Nellie May Hughes. Nelma was raised and attended school in Ponca City, graduating from Ponca High School in 1942.

Nelma taught school on an Indian Reservation near Ponca for a couple of years after completing high school and then was married to Gene Byers in Wichita, Kansas on May 1, 1946. The couple made their initial home in Wichita, later moving to New Orleans and then to Seattle, Washington. Nelma was a member of the First Christian Church in Bellevue, Washington. While residing in Bellevue, Nelda attended nurse training classes at Bellevue Community College.

After the death of her husband, Nelma returned to Oklahoma and established her home near the Cleveland Lake in rural Pawnee County. Nelma enjoyed painting, collecting antiques and also loved to fish. She was an avid Oklahoma State Cowboy Football fan and liked watching football on television. Additionally, she enjoyed country music and dancing.

Nelma was a frequent volunteer for the Red Cross Bloodmobile, a member of the Cleveland Hospital Auxiliary and the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion.
She passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2002 at her home at the age of seventy-eight years, four months and twenty-one days. In addition to her husband, Nelma was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Wayne and Clint Hughes; and one sister, Edella Henderson.

She is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Bette and Ron Vest of Highland, California, Amlen and Jay Masters of Port Charlotte, Florida and Cinda and Bill Triplett of Spring, Texas; four grandchildren, Chris Vest of Farmington, New Mexico, Stephen Vest of New York, New York, Stuart Triplett of Spring, Texas and Tom Triplett of Spring, Texas; sister, Doris Bilkington of Pryor, Oklahoma.

A memorial service was conducted at 2:00 pm, Thursday, September 26, 2002 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Mike Hughes officiating.