Sally Dillingham Byram

Sally Dillingham Byram was born on December 12, 1941, and died on April 21, 2006, in the loving arms of her family. She was a fighter, confronting her three and a half year illness with courage, strength, faith, and grace.

Sally is survived by her husband of 42 years, John D. Byram of Austin; son Johnny Byram of Austin; son and daughter-in-law Blake and Monica Byram of Austin; daughter Brooke and son-in-law Blake Davenport of Los Angeles; mother Mary Lou Galloway of Abilene; and three grandchildren, Grace and Grant Byram and Chloe Davenport. She is also survived by Eileen Simpson, her beloved, faithful friend and caregiver of 28 years.

She was preceded in death by her father Dan D. Dillingham and her sister Dana Dillingham.

After attending elementary school in Abilene, Sally graduated from Alamo Heights Junior and Senior High Schools in San Antonio. She graduated from Texas Christian University where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.

Sally was involved in numerous community and charitable efforts. Continually she and John opened their Austin home and their ranch near Henly in support of the Town Lake Beautification Project, St. David’s Hospital’s “Toast of the Town,” and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. They also hosted events that benefited Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin, as well as functions to assist individuals engaged in public service.

Family was paramount in Sally’s life. She and John fell in love when she was in the second grade, John in the third. Theirs was an extraordinary and enduring partnership that spanned the decades. She loved her children unconditionally, happiest when the family was together. They were frequently in touch, sharing their lives, each having a unique and cherished relationship with her. Each knew she would always be direct and honest, a devoted and supportive friend and mother. Sally was an artist. She was highly creative and had a rare talent for conceptualizing and creating beautiful environments. Her eye for size, shape, and texture was legendary, reflecting her gift as an innovative designer.

To her friends, Sally was totally present and enormously thoughtful. Her infectious spirit made each of them feel special, and she was profoundly generous and loyal. If you were Sally’s friend, you knew your friendship was an unwavering bond for life. No one enjoyed a good joke, a good story, or a good laugh more than Sally Byram. In her theatrical delivery of stories, she was the perfect mimic, stringing together words, images and accents with superb timing. She told great stories on herself, engaging us in her world, recounting her ups and downs, episodes and escapades.

Sally was witty, gregarious, and slightly irreverent. She lit up any room she entered. Sally Byram was truly elegant. She loved her family, her friends, her state, and her community. We will miss her always.

The family would like to express their appreciation to all the doctors and staff that tirelessly assisted her over the past three years.

Services will be held on Tuesday, April 25 at 4:00 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Road, Austin, Texas. A private family burial will be held at the Byram Ranch.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Seton Fund, 1201 W. 38th Street, Austin, Texas 78705. Obituary and guestbook on line at wcfish.com