Byers, Doris K. (Morrow) 1926-2023

BYERS, MORROW, SAVIT, BONTE, ASKAM, HOBAUGH, WOODS, FYE, ELLISON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/12/2023 at 14:04:52

Doris K (Morrow) Byers
August 10, 1926 ~ October 9, 2023 (age 97)

Doris Kathleen Byers, 97, of Newton passed away peacefully at home on Monday morning October 9, 2023. A memorial service is planned for Monday November 6 at 1:00pm at the First United Methodist Church in Newton. The family will greet friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Project AWAKE (newtonarboretum.com) or The Centre for Art and Artists (501 w. 3rd St. N., Newton, Ia. 50208). Donations may be left at the church the day of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Doris was born on August 10, 1926 in New London, Iowa to Pearl and Harvey Morrow. She lived her "most happy childhood" there, graduating from New London High School in 1943. During WWII she joined the Cadet Nurse Corps program at Mercy Hospital in Burlington and received her RN in 1947. On November 28, 1947 Doris married her favorite high school dancing partner, Donald C. Byers, also of New London. Thus began their 63-year marriage and life partnership.

From 1948 to 1951 Doris worked as a registered nurse at Iowa Methodist and Mercy Hospitals in Des Moines, ---along with the GI Bill, helping and supporting Don through Drake Law School. During that period, they welcomed their first two children, Kathleen in 1949 and Karen in 1951.

Later in 1951 Doris and Don settled in Newton, beginning their long, dedicated, and meaningful involvement with the community. Professionally Doris continued her work as a surgical nurse at Skiff Memorial Hospital and as an office nurse in the practice of Frech, Singer, and Onnen. As a private nurse and friend she was also at the side of many during their difficult final days and hours. Their son Alan was born to them in 1956 and their daughter Annette in 1958.

Doris' life was centered around her love of people. She showed a genuine interest in and kindness to family members, close friends, and community members alike. This attribute was reflected in her many activities. Among others she was a faithful and active member of Newton United Methodist Church, the Newton Park Board, the Jasper County Cancer Society, chapter LC of PEO, and a founder of Park Centre. She established a Jasper County Nursing Scholarship and was instrumental in establishing the Iowa Sculpture Festival and the Center for Art and Artists in Newton.

Doris loved life. Her open and inquisitive mind retained an active interest in not only health care but also politics, science, religion, and the arts up until her recent 97th birthday. She loved books, dancing, the mountains, picnics and so much more.

Her legacy continues in the lives of her treasured four children: Kathleen (Robert) Savit, Karen (Kent) Bonte, Alan (Dawn) Byers, and Annette (David) Askam; 11 grandchildren: Alexandra Lee Hobaugh, Eli Savit, Aaron Savit, Gavriel Savit-Woods, Seth Bonte, Anson Bonte, Michelle Byers, Jeffrey Byers, Daniel Byers, Charlotte Askam, and Audrey Askam; and 15 great-grandchildren: Sofie Hobaugh, Bella Hobaugh, Orson Hobaugh, Naftali Savit, Hadar Savit, Maya Savit, Aaron Savit, Isaiah Savit, Lilja Savit-Woods, Amalia Savit-Woods, Taylor Bonte, Evelyn Bonte, Adler Bonte, Millie Bonte, Fiona Bonte, Alexander Byers, Harvey Byers, and Walter Byers.

Doris was preceded in death by her life's partner Don Byers, her sisters Irma Fye and Bette Ellison, a brother Don Morrow, and her parents.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Doris K (Morrow) Byers, please visit our floral store.

Services
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Monday
November 6, 2023
1:00 PM
First United Methodist Church (Newton)
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Image: prozac1 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tribute Wall ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 09 Oct 2023.