Keta Bell Byars

   Keta Bell Byars passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. A  funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday Feb. 28, 2014 in the Chapel of Sullivan Funeral Home of Vernon with Jay Hanley officiating.
   Keta was born on Aug. 30, 1928, in White City to the late Monard and Cora Lee Bell, who soon relocated to Farmers Valley where they owned and operated the Farmers Valley Gin. Keta graduated from Chillicothe High School and attended Abilene Christian College where she met and married the love of her life, Dean Byars.
   Keta was a loving wife, mother, sister, friend and most importantly the “Best Meme Ever.”
   Keta was a member of the Church of Christ. She devoted her life to teaching young children about her Lord and later taught high school students classes to participate in Bible Bowl Contests.
   Keta was a member and past president of the Yamparika Club. She was an avid bridge player for some 60-odd-years and played Contract Bridge and enjoyed playing bridge on her computer. She loved her “bridge pals” and really missed this when she became too ill to play. She later in life became a poet. She wrote poems for all the people she loved. Many of you reading this may have a poem she wrote especially for you. While at Wynwood she wrote a poem for each resident’s birthday over a period of six and a half years. These poems have been cherished by many friends and family members. This was a ministry to her.
   Keta is survived by a daughter, Gail Balser and husband, Bud, of Vernon; son, Greg Byars of Vernon; sister, Donna Brock of Schertz, Texas; grandchildren, Audra Whitworth of Lafayette, Ind., Peyton Iman of Fort Worth, Stephanie Salsona of Austin, Heather Smith of Quanah and Beau Byars of Vernon. She had eight beloved great-grandchildren.
   The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time at Sullivan Funeral Home of Vernon.
   For those desiring, memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Wichita Falls at 4909 Johnson Road, Wichita Falls, Texas 76310 or the Lockett Church of Christ Building Fund, 10252 Hwy 70, Vernon, Texas 76384.
   Online condolences may be made at Sullivanfuneralhomevernon.com