Zack Byrd

1932 ∼ 2018

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Zack Byrd

December 3, 1932 -March 6, 2018

Born in Mount Vernon, Texas to Morris Byrd and Sally Tinsley Byrd

Married to Melba Ruth (Cookie) Bumstead Byrd in Warren, Texas on July 7, 1957

He graduated from Mount Vernon High School. Zack earned his Bachelors degree from East Texas State University and Masters degree from Stephen F. Austin University. He also studied under the Doctoral program at Texas A & M University.

Zack proudly served in the U.S. Army in Austria and Italy and was a veteran of the Korean War.

He was a life long educator. Zack began his career as a Woodshop and Industrial Arts teacher at Woodlawn Junior High and worked as a Counselor, Assistant Principal, Principal and Superintendent in Port Neches-Groves ISD, spanning a career of 35 years. He also served as an interim Superintendent in Sabine Pass ISD and High Island ISD. He concluded his career in education at the age of eighty.

Zack was an active member of First Baptist Church, Port Neches, Texas where he served in many capacities for over sixty years.

Zack’s heart belonged to his family, especially his eight grandchildren. His hobbies were farming and woodworking, which he passed on to his children.

Zack and Cookie shared a life of almost sixty-one years. His children are Keith and Judy Byrd, Grant and Jill Byrd and Steve and Amber Byrd Morris. His grandchildren are Lindsay Byrd, Kerry and Katelyn Byrd Hlanak, Alex and Caroline Byrd Dyer, Zack Chance Byrd, Keegan Byrd, Darby Byrd, Reed Morris and Wyatt Morris. They were the light of his life and he theirs.

Celebration of Life for Zack will be held Thursday, March 8, 2018 at First Baptist Church, Port Neches, Texas. Visitation will be at 11 am followed by the service at 1 pm. Internment will follow at the family cemetery in Warren, Texas. Services are under the direction of Melancon’s Funeral Home, Nederland, Texas.

Condolences

Tracy Mears Murphy March 22, 2023

I loved Mr. Byrd. I had many dealings with him, all positive. My favorite, though, was when I was sent to his office because I had not written the required senior research paper. I explained that a grade point had been taken off for every week I was late so even if I turned one in now, I would get an F on it. He said I wouldn't be able to graduate because the rules stated that everyone must write a research paper in order to graduate. I told him I HAD written a research paper as a junior and received an A+ on it. The rules didn't say it had to be written as a senior. He looked me in the eye for a long minute and said, "Mears, I hope to hell you're planning on being an attorney." I graduated as scheduled.

Sandy Begnaud March 10, 2018

He was Such a good man. So sorry for your loss, James and Norma Penry Rodney and Sandra Penry Begnaud.

Michael Mceachern March 8, 2018

Mr. Byrd, as we knew him when he was Principal at PNG, was a kind and thoughtful man. I always had respect for him and regard him as a positive influence on me and my fellow classmates. He will be missed!

Cheryl March 8, 2018

One time in school I was called to office and I thought I was in trouble but when I got in his office he told me that he had heard that I had not been eating lunch because I had no money for lunch because back then my parents had separated and we didn't have a lot of money and he gave me lunch money so I could eat lunch then after that I got on free lunches. What a great man.

Ann Cutshall March 8, 2018

Ann Cutshall lit a candle in memory of Zack Byrd

Nathan E Boyd March 8, 2018

Zack Byrd was my 8th grade Mechanical Drawing teacher during the 1958-59 school year. He was always first, a good person, great educator and treated everybody with respect. Just a great personality. My sincere condolences to all of his family. Everyone who knew him thought the world of My. Byrd.

Jill Ann Keith March 8, 2018

Jill Ann Keith lit a candle in memory of Zack Byrd

Kathy Hebert Gross March 8, 2018

Keith- So sad to hear this, sending prayers for you and your family. He was a truly great man.

Kayla Lister March 8, 2018

I loved Zack Byrd. What a great guy. He devoted himself to kids and he had a wonderful sense of humor and an awesome memory. My brother lost his shoes at a junior high sock hop and Zack Byrd saw me more than twenty years later and with a twinkle in his eye he said, “Lister, did your brother ever find his shoes?” :mans_shoe:

Betty Poplin March 7, 2018

Mr. Byrd was our bus driver in junior high as well as the woodshop teacher. He was a wonderful person to be around.

Theresa Tyrrell Swann March 7, 2018

Mr Byrd was my Woodlawn counselor and then HS. He saved me many times during that time. He was superintendent when I visited him last. And the same guy who wouldn’t let me take shop in HS tried to hire me to teach it when I became a HS shop teacher. The times were a changing. He truly loved kids as his long career attests. Prayers for the family. He will be missed.

Mike Pruitt March 7, 2018

Mr Byrd was a mentor, teacher, counselor, administrator, but most of all a great example of what an educator Christian should be to me. I remember as DANNY McInnis and I left the field after 1970 graduation ceremony, Mr Byrd was standing at corner of the home stands at the fieldhouse end. We had gone from Woodlawn to the high school together. As DANNY and I told Mr Byrd goodbye, I surprisingly saw a tear in his eye. I was to understand later as I attended the many graduations of "my" students, those relationships are so special. Much later as I was faced with my own educational/athletic challenges, I sought out his advice of how to deal with my problem. Over the phone after I shared my concerns, I could see him saying, "well Pruitt", I'm sure he was pushing his glasses back up on his nose, and gave me his opinion. Mr Byrd, as many of other educators, was one of the people who influenced my decision to go into education.

George King March 7, 2018

Please know that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers. George King