Wilma "Willie" Byrd

Wilma “Willie” Byrd, 85, of Longmont passed away November 16, 2019 at LifeCare Center of Longmont.

She was born February 1, 1934 in Harper, Kansas to Ralph and Ida (Bruce) Hawkins. As a young girl she had many pets (dogs, cats, chickens and a lamb) that would accompany her to the mailbox every day as a group. Growing up she hated to cook and said she would rather be out in the fields helping her Dad or playing with her animals than learning how to cook.

She attended and graduated from Harper High School, where she played clarinet in the band and was on the staff of the school newspaper. Willie was quite the dancer and was voted most likely to become and instructor with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio.

On August 27, 1952 she married Gene Byrd. The ceremony took place on a parade float in Harper. They moved to Longmont in 1966 from Wichita, Kansas

In her early years in Harper Willie worked at the Dairy Bar and was a Practical Nurse. In Longmont she worked at Dainty Pastry, Ranch Wholesale, and Erie Auto Salvage. Her greatest and most fulfilling job was being a homemaker and mother.

She was a member of LifeBridge Christian Church.

In Kansas she was in the PTA and a Girl Scout Leader. In Longmont, she was in the Newcomers Club. She always volunteered to help with school functions and helped chaperone a trip to Hawaii with the LHS band.

She had a special love for animals and had many pets. She and her husband enjoyed bowling on the Merry Mixers and T.G.I.F. leagues. She loved to read and enjoyed word search puzzles. She was a bingo lady and lucky as heck with pickles. She enjoyed going to Blackhawk and was just as lucky winning a $5000 progressive jackpot. Playing cards was an every weekend occurrence and when the grandkids came over they would grab the Aggravation and Yahtzee games. She loved going to arts and craft shows with her daughter.

Her Grandsons, as kids, would call Grandma to see if they could spend the night (or weekend) and put in their order for steak and mashed potatoes. This always tickled Grandma. She taught her Granddaughters how to make pecan fingers Christmas cookies and they would bake with Grandma every year. One of her greatest joys was taking her Grandkids on vacations. Their favorite destination- South Dakota! They would spend the days seeing the sights, go back to the hotel for a swim, have dinner, and then play mini golf. Fun times and lots of memories. Her son recalls her always saying, “Where have you been?” which probably meant he wasn’t where he was supposed to be.

Christmas was her favorite holiday. She loved all the decorating, writing Christmas cards, and shopping. She liked to go to Estes Park with her daughter, where they would enjoy the day strolling through the shops and then have a Nutty Irishman coffee before heading home.

She is survived by her husband Gene Byrd; Son Greg Byrd & wife Joanna of Berthoud, CO; Daughter Melinda Jenkins & husband Doug of Longmont, CO; Grandchildren Jarrod Byrd (wife Megan) of Nanaimo, BC, Canada; Brandon Byrd (wife Jennifer) of Parker, CO; Amanda Jenkins of Longmont, CO and Laura Jenkins of Longmont, CO; Great-Grandchildren Ames Byrd, Rylan Byrd, Miles Byrd, Oscar Byrd, Camara Byrd, Natalie Byrd, Rowan Byrd, and Caroline Kruger.

She is preceded in death by her father Ralph Hawkins, her mother Ida Hawkins and Grandchild Justin Byrd.

Memorial services will be held 10:30 am Monday, November 25, 2019 at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Cremation entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the local Humane Society. Share condolences at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.