Gloria Annette McNeill Byrd, of El Dorado, died on Friday, May 31, 2019. Gloria was born on July 31, 1929, to the late Annette Cyrier and Troy McNeill, in Little Rock, and the McNeills moved to Fort Smith while Gloria was an infant. A member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, she met her beloved husband, Thomas Morgan (T. M.) Byrd, at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and they moved to El Dorado following their marriage in 1949.
She was a long time member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, and sang in the choir for more than 20 years. She and T. M. also provided dinners for the Sunday Night Youth Group.
Gloria was a successful realtor, and was consistently a top producer with Moore Realty, where she was one of the first Million Dollar sellers in the El Dorado market.
Her service to her community included her work as President of the El Dorado Service League, and she loved volunteering at the SAAC Lunch, a fundraising project for the South Arkansas Arts Center. After her retirement, she remained fit working with the early morning swimming group at the Health Works facility in El Dorado.
Her children would like to acknowledge the loving help Gloria received during her short battle with cancer from her caregiver, Rose Azo, and from her hospice home health care nurse, Ginger Mills. The visits and phone calls from her many loving friends were so important to her, and brightened the balance of her life. She will be missed by all those whose paths crossed with hers.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her children, Tommy Byrd of Austin, Texas; Marilyn Brown (Greg) of Park City, Utah; and Martha Dudley (Chuck) of Hot Springs; her grandchildren, Hayley Marshall (Jonathan), Robert Dudley (Adrian), and Thomas Dudley (Alanna); two great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and her nephew, Father Gregory Pilcher.
A Memorial Service will be held Monday, June 17, 2019 at 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church with a reception to follow in the Parish Hall.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 512 Champagnolle Rd, El Dorado, AR 71730; or John R. Williamson Hospice House, 2301 Champagnolle Rd, El Dorado, AR 71730.
An online registry can be found at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.
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