Bessie M. (Maxwell) Byers

Bessie M. Maxwell Byers, 97, of Petrolia, passed away with her family at her side Tuesday afternoon, April 24, 2018 at the VNA Inpatient Hospice in Butler.

Bessie was born in Richland Township, Venango County, on December 10, 1920.  She was the daughter of Walter R. and Ella Pearl Barger Maxwell.  Bessie graduated, with honors, in 1939, from Emlenton High School.  She enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, and was an avid Steeler fan.   In her earlier years, Bessie had been employed at Cress department store in Macon, Georgia while her husband was serving in the military.  Bessie served on the election board in Parker Township, Butler County and retired from the Karns City Area School District as the cafeteria manager at the Bruin Elementary School.

Bessie was married to Merle Richard Byers on June 12, 1940 at St. John Reformed Church in Chicora.  Mr. Byers preceded her in death on September 30 , 2007. 

Surviving are four children: Earla M. Crawford and her husband, William, of Saxonburg, Kay Merlene Uenking, and her husband, Thomas, of Chicora, Richard A. Byers, and his wife, Diana, of McKinney, TX, and Daryle L. Byers and his wife, Miriam Ruth, of Karns City.  She is also survived by ten grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren, and two step great grandchildren, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by  a daughter, Darla Lou Byers on June 28, 1941, two sisters, Flora Moore and Anna Knox, two brothers, Earl and Frank Maxwell, and a sister- in- law, Dorothy McIntyre.

Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 3-8 p.m. on Friday and from 10-11 a.m. Saturday.  A funeral service will follow from the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Dennis Barger, pastor of the Scrubgrass Stone Church in Emlenton, officiating.  Interment will be in Bear Creek Cemetery, Petrolia.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department,  P.O. Box 237 Petrolia.  For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com. 

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