Mary Ellen Byrd

Mary Ellen Byrd, 88, of Punta Gorda, FL, passed peacefully at her home on the morning of March 6, 2014. At her bedside was her faithful companion and son, Mark. Born to Hal and Eleanor Myers in Portageville, Missouri on June 19, 1925, Mary Ellen was married to Ben Byrd, an Air Force Pilot. They married in 1948 and raised four children together, Rebecca, Jon, Steven and Mark.

As usual, military life meant constant moves. Between 1960 and 1963 they lived in Paris, France and this is where she started her art studies under the tutelage of Jacqueline Rethere who taught in the Nicolaides method. Impressionistic painting was her first love. Mary painted in all mediums, but came to enjoy watercolor the most. After Paris, they moved to Mt Holly, New Jersey where Mary continued her studies at Fleischer Memorial in Philadelphia and also studied portraiture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mary was a member of "The Plastic Club" in Philadelphia which was founded by women artists in 1897. She was also a member of the Burlington County Art Guild.

Ben passed in 1968 during the Vietnam War and in 1987 Mary moved to Punta Gorda. They had always wanted to retire in Florida and with her son Mark, they built their dream home and settled in the Isles. Mary was a member of the Charlotte County Art Guild, The Florida Watercolor Society, The Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society, and the Visual Arts Center of Punta Gorda.

Mary is survived by her sister, Stella Hickerson; her daughter, Rebecca Maddox; her sons, Jon, Steven and Mark; grandchildren, Tim Falk, Kim Chavanne, Jon Byrd, Jr, Chandra Persons, Megan Cernoch, Jackie Simber and Brittany Goodchild; great grandchildren, Sophie, Maddie and Aaron Chavanne, Ben, Machenzie and Elice Byrd, Zoe Cernoch, Abigail Simber and Ethan and Kelsey Persons.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am, Wednesday March 12, 2014 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda. Mary will be laid to rest next to her husband Ben at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.