Louise Lillian Byrd

LOUISE HAUER BYRD, 93, a long time resident of Taylor Villas in Jacksonville, Florida, died peacefully on August 11 at Baptist Medical Center.

Born in Rochester, NY, to George and Margaret (Schmidt) Hauer, she married Leonard E. Byrd in her hometown. He preceded her in death 2006.

Louise was the first Rochestarian to enlist in the newly created Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (later called Women’s Army Corps) in 1942 during World War II. She served on the home front as a trumpeter in the WAC’s first band, and was the first woman bugler in U.S Army history.

Relocating to Florida in 1972, she worked as the office manager for Women’s Medical Group until her retirement.

Her volunteer efforts are legend. Following the war she and her husband were active members in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and volunteered extensively at the VA Hospital in Canandaigua, NY, working with veterans diagnosed with mental health illnesses. In Jacksonville, Louise and her husband helped maintain the Ronald McDonald House Room at Baptist Hospital, providing warmth and support to terminally ill children and their parents. Following her husband’s death she became active in the local chapter of the Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association, Chapter 56, serving as secretary and treasurer, and working to help homeless veterans in the area.

Louise was a member of San Jose Catholic Church. She helped coordinate the weekly rosary program at Taylor Manor and served as liaison between the church and Taylor.

She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Ann Marie Byrd and David Crabtree of Jacksonville, FL, and Linda Byrd and Tom Elder of Albuquerque, NM. Her two grandchildren, Michael Crabtree and Elizabeth Elder engendered boundless love and pride.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Patrick J. Byrd, in 1989, her sister Marie (Hauer) Sargent and her brother Joseph Hauer.

Funeral services, Father Gregory Fay presiding, will be held Friday, August 22 at 10 a.m. at San Jose Catholic Church Chapel, 3619 Toledo Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32217. Following the service, ashes will be interred at the Church’s Columbarium.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to any of these exceptional organizations: American Cancer Society, Women in Military Service for America (WIMSA), or the Taylor Foundation.