JoAnn Byrd

JoAnn was born and raised in Owensboro, KY. alongside her 9 brothers and sisters by wonderful parents, Ernest and Rowena Gaddis. She loved helping raise her younger siblings, playing all over Owensboro, eating cold biscuits with her Great Grandmother, spending weekends at the movies, and reading every book she could get her hands on, escaping to faraway lands on amazing adventures. She graduated every learning institution with the highest of honors, including Owensboro Technical High School as Valedictorian, Kentucky Wesleyan College – Magna Cum Laude, and Brescia University – Summa Cum Laude. She continuously encouraged her children and grandchildren to have that same love of reading and passion for learning throughout the years. She moved to Houston in the early 1960’s to pursue a career in the medical field, as a Medical Technician at Methodist Hospital and later, she went on to utilize those skills as a Chromatographer at Shell Oil for many years. JoAnn met the love her life, Mickey, in the beginning of 1967 and 5 months into their soul mating, they married. In 1971 they welcomed their first child, Shannon, quickly following in 1973, they welcomed Darin. JoAnn was the consummate caregiver, always thinking of others. She volunteered for every school needing parents and grandparents to lend a hand. She continuously gave of her time and care to help families in need and those in grief at Atascocita United Methodist church for more years than we could count. And no one ever went hungry in her presence. She believed if you could help anyone in some way, you absolutely should try, and it brought her the greatest joy to do so. She eventually retired in the early 2000’s from the Texas Department of Public Transportation in Humble and was considered by family, friends, and many random public encounters, as the Greatest Driver’s License Examiner of All Time. Her retirement just gave her more time to continue to her passion for caring for and helping people through all her volunteer time and donating opportunities.

JoAnn was the most wonderful, caring, accepting, and loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Human Angel you could ever be lucky enough to know. Her smile, warmth, laughter, compassion and loving nature will be missed more than words could describe. She leaves behind her daughter, Shannon MacArthur of Kingwood, TX., husband Mark MacArthur, along with their daughter, Jazalyn Lesher and husband Colby, as well as her son, Darin Byrd of Driftwood, TX., wife Laura Byrd and their three children, Mason, Carter, and Ryan Marie, and in addition her very loved, brother, sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends. Her family takes comfort in knowing she is reunited with her husband Mickey. As well as with her parents, brothers- Teddy and Bobby, and sisters- Fay, Jeanie and Scotty.

Her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren would be grateful for you to join them on Saturday, June 28th, 2025, to celebrate her incredible love and life. Her Celebration of Life Service will take place at Dignity – Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, TX. 77339. 281-358-9005. The service will start promptly at 2pm, followed by a dessert reception at the funeral home from 3pm to 5pm.