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- [S2] Staff, Daily Press, The, (Name: Daily Press, The; Location: St. Marys, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States;), Obituary: Byrd, Donald A. 12FEB2020.
Donald A. Byrd, 65, of 670 Washington Street, St Marys, died on Monday, February 10, 2020 at Penn Highlands Elk following a short illness.
He was born on November 11, 1954, in Ridgway, a son of the late Robert and Thelma "Byrdie" Brechtel Byrd.
Don was Catholic by faith and a graduate of St. Marys Area High School, class of 1973. After returning home from Florida where he had made his home for more than 15 years, he worked at and then retired from Walmart in St. Marys. An avid antiques collector, Don also enjoyed tending to his house plants and his pet bird, Max.
He is survived by three sisters; Barbara Gadley-Cheeks and her husband Clifford of Kane, Lorie Fleming of Penn Yan, New York, and Mary Wendel and her husband Steve of St. Marys, and by two brothers; James Byrd and his wife Kim of St. Marys and Michael Byrd and his wife Jennifer of Ridgway. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.
A Memorial Service for Donald A. Byrd will be held on Friday, February 14, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Lynch-Green Funeral Home with Rev. Michael Gabler, OSB, officiating.
Interment will be in St. Marys Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home on Friday, February 14, 2020 from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elk County Humane Society, 1029 E. Eschbach Road, St. Marys, PA 15857.
Lynch-Green Funeral Home, 151 N. Michael St., St. Marys, is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.lynchgreenfuneralhome.com.
Published in The Daily Press on Feb. 12, 2020
HFA: 12FEB2020
- [S2] Staff, Daily Press, The, (Name: Daily Press, The; Location: St. Marys, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States;), Obituary: Byrd, Thelma R (Brechtel). 16JUL2015.
Thelma R. "Byrdie" Byrd, 83, a resident of Elk Haven Nursing Home and formerly of 670 Washington St., St. Marys, died Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at Elk Haven Nursing Home following a lengthy illness.
She was born Jan. 6, 1932 in Pittsburgh, a daughter of the late Herman and Anna Nist Brechtel.
On Nov. 27, 1952 in Johnsonburg, she married Robert P. Byrd who preceded her in death Oct. 12, 1987.
Byrdie was a graduate of Johnsonburg High School and was a member of Sacred Heart Church. She worked at the Four Seasons Motel for a number of years and enjoyed traveling and crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed bowling and was a big supporter of animal foundations, and also loved Our Lady of Fatima.
She is survived by six children, Barbara (Clifford) Gadley-Cheeks of Kane, Loretta Fleming of Penn Yan, N.Y., Mary (Steve) Wendel of St. Marys, Donald Byrd of St. Marys, James (Kim) Byrd of St. Marys, and Michael (Jennifer) Byrd of Ridgway; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her twin sister in early childhood, Ruth Brechtel.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Thelma "Byrdie" Byrd will be celebrated Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Center Street, St. Marys with Rev. Eric Vogt, OSB, officiating.
Interment will be in Parklawn Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be held at the Lynch-Green Funeral Home on Thursday, July 16 from 5-8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elk Haven Nursing Home Activity Fund.
Lynch-Green Funeral Home, 151 N. Michael St., St. Marys, is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be made to the family at www.lynchgreenfuneralhome.com.
Funeral Home
Lynch-Green Funeral Home Inc.
151 North Michael Street St. Marys, PA 15857
(814)834-4317
Published in The Daily Press on July 16, 2015
HFA: 16JUL2015
- [S2] Staff, Daily Press, The, (Name: Daily Press, The; Location: St. Marys, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States;), Obituary: Fleming, Loretta A. "Lorie" (Byrd). 30OCT2022.
Loretta (Lorie) A. Fleming, 60, of Penn Yan, passed away October 12, 2022.
Lorie was born April 5, 1962 in Ridgway, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Robert and Thelma
(Brechtel) Byrd. She was raised in her hometown of St. Marys, PA, along with her five siblings, in a small, three-bedroom home that would remain with the family until her brother's passing in 2019. Lorie would eventually join the Army in 1981, but was honorably discharged the same year due to an ailment that would lead to permanent hearing loss and a lifetime of her children repeating themselves.
In 1985, she was married in her hometown to Dave Fleming (Cyndi Jepsen), and later moved to Penn Yan, NY following her husband's career at Seneca Flight Operations. She considered both places home. While they later divorced, Dave remained a close part of Lorie's life together raising their two children.
Her family and friends in Penn Yan remember her kindness, her years working at the Penn Yan Elementary cafeteria, and her many other jobs and volunteer positions in the community. Some of Lorie's closest connections were built sharing her hometown favorite meal of homemade sauerkraut and pork on mashed potatoes; nothing brought friends closer than the aroma of rotten cabbage. It is through Seneca Flight, her employment, neighbors, and volunteer work that she would find lifetime friendships as close as family.
She was a proud mother, and although she would say that her children were her proudest accomplishments, she was also a dedicated aunt, guardian, and godmother to many whom she loved dearly.
In a 1996 feature in the Finger Lakes Times she stated that the virtue she wanted to pass on to her children was "to respect others and their feelings and to enjoy life to the fullest. Whatever they choose to do, she wants her kids to enjoy it and be happy with it."
She was predeceased by her parents and a brother, Donald Byrd.
She is survived by her children, Thomas Fleming (Kacie Dean) of Greenfield, MA and Karl (Morgan) Fleming of Penn Yan, sisters and brothers, Barb Gadley-Cheeks (Cliff Cheeks) of Kane, PA; Mary (Steve) Wendel of St. Marys, PA; Jim (Kim) Byrd of St. Marys, PA; and Mike (Jenn) Byrd of Ridgway, PA, and one grandson, Wesley Fleming.
According to her wishes, there are no funeral services. Memorial donations in her memory may be made to Milly's Pantry, 19 Main St., Penn Yan, NY 14527 (or online at www.millyspantry.org)
Arrangements with Weldon Funeral Home, Penn Yan.
Published by The Daily Press from Oct. 29 to Oct. 30, 2022.
HFA: 30OCT2022
- [S234] Staff, Daily Press, The, (Name: Daily Press, The; Location: St. Marys, Elk, Pennsylvania, United States;), Gadley-Cheeks, Barbara A.
Barbara A. Gadley-Cheeks, 67, of Oak Street, passed away Sunday (October 26, 2025) at her home.
Born April 6, 1958, in Ridgway, she was a daughter of the late Robert and Thelma (Brechtel) Byrd. On August 8, 1997, in Russell City, she married Clifford Cheeks who survives.
Barbara was a graduate of St. Marys Area High School. She was employed by the Eagles Club FOE 307 as the Board Secretary. In addition to the Eagles Club, she was a member of the Wilcox Sportsman's Club and Central Hose.
Surviving, in addition to her husband, are a son, Russell Manners; a daughter, Angela (Matt) Johnson; two stepsons, Daniel Gadley and Michael Hulings; 10 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary (Steve) Wendel; two brothers, Jim (Kim) Byrd and Michael(Jen) Byrd; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Loretta Fleming, a brother Donald Byrd and a stepdaughter, Billy Jo Worely.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday (November 1, 2025) at the Cummings Funeral Home, Inc. with The Rev. Calvin Cook officiating. Luncheon to follow at Kane Eagles.
Online condolences can be expressed at Cummings Funeral Home, Inc.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Daily Press, The: 28Oct2025
Accessed: 28OCT2025
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1962 - 2022 (60 years)
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