Byron was born July 16, 1936, in the Sulphur Mines to Woodrow and Leola Hollier Chamblee. He attended Sulphur High School, graduating in 1954, where he was a member of the Sulphur High Rodeo Club and competed in the Rodeo National Finals. Byron attended McNeese State University. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Suez Canal Conflict in 1956. Byron returned from the Navy and worked many years at Builders-Sav-Mor building supply in Sulphur, LA, a company his father started. He retired from the Louisiana Department of Conservation after 30 years of service. Byron was a founding member of Carlyss Rural Water District 9 where he served as President and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 8058 where he was a Grand Knight.
While attending a rodeo at McNeese, Byron met the love of his life, Evelyn Mary Kratzer, whom he married on December 28, 1957. Together, they raised three children, Kent, Sheri and Terry in the Carlyss, Louisiana community. Byron was a devoted Christian, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He found love in fishing, hunting and traveling around the United States, Canada and Europe.
Byron was preceded in death by his parents, Woodrow and Leola Chamblee, his brother Gary Chamblee, son-in-law Doug Yarbrough and great-grandson Henry LeBlanc.
Byron is survived by his wife of 68 years, Evelyn Mary Chamblee; his son David Kent Chamblee and wife Stephanie of Carlyss, LA; daughter Sheri Ann Yarbrough of Round Rock, TX; his son Terry Lee Chamblee and partner Ivan Oliver-Vargas of Houston, TX; his grandchildren Cody Yarbrough and wife Jackie of Round Rock, TX; Kaitlin Hunsbro and husband Josh of Round Rock, TX and Hannah LeBlanc and husband Jim of Carlyss, LA. He was blessed with four great-grandchildren; Emma, Monroe, Kasey, and Beau and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Byron's memory to Our Lady's Catholic School in Sulphur, LA or St. Theresa Catholic Church in Carlyss, LA where he and his wife were parishioners for 65 years.
Visitation will be held at Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home in Sulphur, LA on Thursday, October 22, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with a KC rosary starting at 6:30 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. Friday until the dismissal to the church. A funeral mass will held at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Carlyss, LA on Friday, October 23, 2026 at 10:00am led by the Rev. Sibi Kunninu, M.S. followed by burial at Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss, LA.
Byron's family takes comfort in knowing that he is now in the Kingdom of Heaven with our Lord and Savior.
