Viola Ruth Threlkeld Byrd

Viola Ruth Threlkeld Byrd, 99 years, 3 months, and 9 days, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., passed away Friday, July 8, 2022, in the comfort of her sister Melva's home in Piggott.

Viola Ruth Threlkeld, a descendant of Sir Lancelot de Threlkeld, Lake District, Cumbria, England, member of the Privy Council of Elizabeth I, Queen of England, was born on March 29, 1923, to Evret Reed Threlkeld, (son of Elnora Stalions and Ulie Threlkeld) and Ora Belle Smith, (daughter of Winnie Hill and Mack Smith), in Brown Spur, a community near Manila.

Viola's siblings, by order of birth were, Flora Melva (Pritchett), Rubye Beryl (Wilcox), Joseph Reed, Naomi Blanche (Bibb), Virginia Ione (Robertson). Viola played basketball at Manila High School and excelled in mathematics. She graduated in 1941. Viola went on to Detroit, Mich., worked at Manufacturers National Bank in the Penobscot Building with the red ball on top. Near the end of WWII, she married Hurshell Filmore Byrd, born on Jan. 7, 1922, son of Pearl Lavice Romine and John Maxey Byrd, of Pocahontas. From their union was born two daughters, Evelyn Paulette of Poplar Bluff and V'Ora Ulane (first husband, Gary Flenner Joplin), (second husband, Rick Cooper) of Piggott; grandchild, Christopher Blaine (Mia Crowson) Cooper of Poplar Bluff, their children, Emma Caroline Pratt and husband, their children (great-great-grandchildren of Viola and Hurshell Byrd), Heidi Rae and Caroline; other great-grandchildren, Cole, Molly Claire; grandchild, John Derek Cooper and wife of Jonesboro; their children, Chloe and Katy; also surviving, Viola's sister Melva and Dan Wesley Pritchett II of Piggott; their children, Dan Wesley (Judy Templeton) Pritchett III and their child, Roxanne; J.E. (Vicky Simpson) Pritchett and their child Bryce; Dan III second wife, Julie; foster daughter, Brenda (Gaylon Romine) Sutherland, one child, Matthew; Viola's sister Rubye and WM Louis Wilcox, first child, William Louis Wilcox Jr. (first wife, Barbara), their daughter Kimberley (married Mr. Bittle) of Jonesboro, (Dcd second wife Rebecca), two children, Jessica and Michael Lancelot, (third wife, Maria), one child, Joshua all of Spring, Texas; second child, Rhonda Marice (first husband, Alvin Hughes), their son, David, (second husband, Larry Bundy), their son, Brittan, of Bald Top, Texas. Viola's brother, Joseph Reed Threlkeld (married Sharlene Hester), their children, Melissa and her daughter Flannery Threlkeld; Melanie (Michael McConnell), their children, Mason Reed and Molly Rose of Waynesville, N.C.; Merry Jo (Ted Anderson), their children, Greyson Reed and Allecia of Nashville Tenn.; Joseph Reed Jr. (Diane) of the St. Louis area; Viola's sister, Blanche who married Lloyd Bibb of Monette, their children, Rodney Lloyd, Roger Threlkeld (first wife, Lisa), their child, Brittany Nashae who married a Mr. Lemmons, their son, Ashton of Piggott; (second wife, Lisa), their children, Jordan and Katy; Viola's sister, Virginia and her husband John Robertson of Tuscaloosa, Ala., their children, Vanessa Dawn who married Mr. Hobson of London, England and April LeOra (first husband David Thompson), their children, Beverly Ione, and Conner John, (second husband, Ray Townsend) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

After serving a tour in Vietnam, in the First Air Calvary, a dispatcher of Huey's at DaNang, Viola's husband eventually retired at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Ind. They went on to buy a farm in Piggott and later sold it due to health issues, moving to Poplar Bluff, Mo., in 1977 because of the VA Hospital. Both Viola and Hurshell converted to Roman Catholicism, in January 1980. They attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Poplar Bluff. The Lord took Hurshell home in September 1984.

Viola was a widow for 38 years. Shortly before her husband's passing, they purchased the Quinn Irish Castle on south 6th street in Poplar Bluff. Viola was very active in the Poplar Bluff Community. She was a member of the Ozark Foothills Commission, The Better Garden Club, The Butler County Historical Society, an ongoing project to become a Daughter of the American Revolution Society, and Geneology Club. At Sacred Heart, she was a Proclaimer of the word; a Eucharistic server of the body and blood of Jesus Christ the Lord, she was a member of St Ann Altar Society, and a member of Diocesan Council of Catholic Women of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo. Viola loved the green earth, flowers, ferns, and CATS. Her health began to falter in 2008. She had hoards of friends, and family, she loved them all especially, Mary Saracini, Jane Arnold, Annette Eaton, Cassie Willey, Jack Johnson, and Frances Gamblin.

We want to thank Mark Clark, Pain Management of Piggott, her personal physician, Prem Varma and nurse Tammy, her attorney, John Clark, Father Raymond O'Connor, CMF, Father John Lemrise, CMF, Father John LaValle, CMF, Father Michael McDevitt, Father David Coon, Father John Braun, Father Daniel Robles, (who gave her the Last Rites), Cardinal Bernard Law, and Bishop John Leibrecht, the Piggott Community Hospital and its loving, caring, staff, her caregivers the last three weeks of her life on this Earth, Rubye Threlkeld Wilcox, Melva Threlkeld Pritchett, and sisters Jannie Warbritton and Teresa Overbey of Pollard, and the staff of Legacy Hospice of Walnut Ridge, Ciara Hicks of Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services in Poplar Bluff, lastly her daughter and caregiver of 14 years, Evelyn.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2022, from 10-11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass will begin at 11 a.m. with Father Daniel Robles officiating. Burial will take place at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Poplar Bluff. A luncheon will be held at St. Anns Hall following the committal service.

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is proud to serve the family and friends of Mrs. Viola Ruth Threlkeld Byrd. Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com