Ronald Irvin Byrd

Ronald Byrd, 86, of Lee’s Summit, MO, passed away on March 17, 2026. Ron was born in Cooter, MO, the only son of Ruth (Tucker) and Cecil Byrd. He was raised in St. Louis, MO, but he called Kansas City home.

Ron spent his career as a federal investigator, earning top-secret security clearance and interviewing over 15,000 people as he worked to keep our nation safe. Ron served in the US Army Reserves for 5½ years. He was proud to have been a federal agent observing elections in Mississippi and Alabama during the tense times of the civil rights era. A major history buff, Ron dabbled in genealogy and traced the Byrd ancestors to 1668 in the British colony that became the USA. Replete with humor, trivia, and quotes from Mark Twain and Shakespeare, he served as a reference tool for his family, in the days before Google. He and his wife Linda Calia Byrd traveled to all 50 states, driving to the 48 contiguous states and taking cruises to Alaska and Hawaii. He was a great source of information on the USA, past and present, and loved to plan travel routes that took in the most sites and national parks.

He was preceded in death by his parents, former wife Elaine Bossola, and his wife, Linda Calia Byrd. Left to remember him are his daughters Christine (Tim), Carolyn, and Kathleen (Bryon); grandchildren Nicole, Eddie, Steven, Lucas, Chloe, and Greta; great-grandchildren Kennyboy, Myah, Leah, and little Eddie; extended family Benny (Cathy), Paul, Michael (Teresa), and John (Bridgett), Samantha, Alexandra, Nikolaus, Vincent, Megan, Alex and Andy. He will also be missed by his companion in his later years Mary Ellen Adams and lifelong friends Dave Comire and John Thompson. The family is grateful to Wellington and Una, his caregivers who allowed him to remain in the house he loved surrounded by memories as his health declined. He will rest in peace at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS, next to his soulmate Linda.