Burdette Sexton 'Burt' Byers, 12 Mar 1942 - 19 Aug 2021

BYERS, PEARSON, GARRETT, GAROUTTE

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 8/26/2021 at 10:01:25

Burt Byers, 79, of Amana, formerly of Montezuma, passed away Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma. Burial will be held in the IOOF Masonic Cemetery in Montezuma. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Burdette "Burt" Sexton Byers was born on March 12, 1942, to Thomas and Lennie Geneva (Pearson) Byers. Burt attended and graduated from Montezuma High School in 1960. He farmed with his family for a short time before graduating from Indian Hills Community College with a computer engineering degree.

Burt was united in marriage to Dixie Garrett on Jan. 14, 1966, at Deep River and they became the parents of two children, Tom and Michelle. They moved to Boston, Mass., and worked for Digital Equipment later known as Compact and HP. They were also transferred to Minneapolis and Chicago before moving to Amana in 1980, where he was the manager of the Iowa office.

Burt retired in 2002 as logistics manager. After retirement, Burt served on the REC Board and also served one term as vice president. Burt loved his family and enjoyed drag racing, and truck pulling with his son, Tom, since 1985, winning 14 Iowa Championships and four National Championships. He loved to collect muscle cars from the 60s, 409 Chevrolets and Allis Chalmers tractors.

Burt is survived by his wife, Dixie of Amana; his son, Tom (Lori) Byers of Watkins; and his daughter, Michelle (Randy) Garoutte of Amana; his grandchildren, Cameron Byers, Cody Garoutte, Jacob Garoutte and Nicholas Garoutte; four great-grandchildren, Nevaeh, Henry, Lilly and Dempsey; his brother, Gordon (Lorraine) Byers of Eagen, Minn.; as well as many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gerald Byers.

Published in The Gazette on August 23, 2021.