Mary Byron

On Monday, January 9th, 2017 at 12:40 a.m. one of the oldest descendants of the original German settlers of Edwardsville, died in her sleep after several years battling with cancer. Mary Byron was born in Edwardsville on May 15, 1932, in the office of her father's medical practice on Main Street in Edwardsville. She was the daughter of Roy Smith Barnsback, M.D., his wife Mabel (nee Lawder) Barnsback. Mary attended Columbus Grade School and graduated from Edwardsville High School on June 7, 1949. Mary attended Monticello College, Godfrey Illinois graduating with an Associate’s Degree in June, 1951. She later attended Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, graduating with Honors in June 1953 with a Bachelor’s Degree in American History and Civilization. Mary is survived by her college sweetheart, the Honorable Nicholas George Byron (retired former Circuit and Chief Judge of Madison County Illinois). They were married on May 2, 1952 at Trinity Church in Elkton, Maryland. Nicholas had graduated from Johns Hopkins several days before their marriage before being commissioned in the U.S. Army. Mary was active in many organization in Edwardsville, among some of her favorites were the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames. She is descended from many ancestors in the various armed services of the United States, Col. William Crawford (a close friend of President George Washington). Her father, the late, Dr. Roy S. Barnsback serviced also served in the U.S. Military as a medical surgeon for the U.S. Army in World War I. During Nick’s time in the US Army Military, they lived at Fort Benning,Georgia. Later they moved to Clayton, Missouri when both Nick and Mary attended graduate school at Washington University. While Nick was at Washington University School of law, Mary received her Master’s Certificate in Education and began teaching 5th Grade at Conway Elementary School in Ladue, Missouri.
Mary was a guiding influence in Nick’s legal and political career as State’s Attorney and Circuit Judge and credits Mary as a strong influence in all his political endeavors, including her active role as an advocate for education and disability. As a teacher, she believed education should be readily available for all, regardless of their financial or physical abilities. She is survived by 4 Children: Son- Dr. Jonathon Roy Byron, (Jacksonville, FL) and his wife Didda Byron, Daughter Mary Elizabeth Byron (Long Beach, California), Son- Andrew George Byron (Deceased 2002),Daughter- Barbara Ellen Byron ,Son- Christopher William Byron and his wife Kathleen Byron; She is survived by 5 Grandchildren: Granddaughter- Evelyn Anna (nee Byron) Allen (Daughter of Jonathon and Didda), Grandson- Daniel William Garcia (Daughter of Mary Elizabeth Byron),Grandson- Christopher William Byron, Jr. (Son of Christopher and Kathleen), Granddaughter- Caroline Frances Byron (Son of Christopher and Kathleen),Grandson- Andrew George Byron, II (Son of Christopher and Kathleen); The Visitation will be held at Weber & Rodney funeral home at 304 N. Main St. in Edwardsville from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Funeral services will also be conducted at Weber & Rodney funeral home on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. with the Very Reverend Jeffrey Goeckner officiating, with her burial at Woodlawn Cemetery. She shall be missed by all her friends and family in Edwardsville, Illinois and Jacksonville, Florida. In lieu of flower, donations may be made in her memory to the Washington University School of Medicine at the Siteman Cancer Center (Barnes-Jewish Hospital) St. Louis, Missouri or Goucher College Townsend, Maryland.