1919 - 2017
GEORGIA - Katherine Byrd, 98, formerly of Pierstown, died Friday afternoon, October 6, 2017, in Blairsville, Georgia.
A native of Long Island, she was born June 18, 1919, in Glendale, a daughter of John R. and Catherine A. (Endrich) Loeffler.
After graduating from Hicksville High School in 1937, she was employed for eight years by the Bank of Hicksville. In 1945 she entered Hartwick College School of Nursing, graduated in 1949, and then worked for a year as an apprentice public health nurse for the City of Oneonta.
From 1950-1951 Katherine studied at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. In 1951 she received her license as a Public Health Nurse for New York State and became employed by Delaware County and Andes Central School.
It was during this time that she met Roger Avery Byrd, and they were married October 12, 1951 at Atonement Lutheran Church in Oneonta with the Rev. Dr. Gustav Nordberg officiating.
For a time Katherine and Roger had a farm in Fall Clove in Delaware County. Around 1962 they moved West and settled in Oregon, but returned to their native New York State in 1967 and purchased a dairy farm in Pierstown in 1968. In the Fall of 1982, they retired and moved back out West, this time to Sparks, Nevada. Following Roger's death August 9, 1995, Katherine lived in Crystal River, Florida, and later moved to Georgia to be near her son, Russell.
A life-long Confirmed Lutheran, she was a member of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartwick Seminary during her years in Otsego County. After moving to Florida, she became a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Hernando.
Katherine is survived by a son, Russell Byrd and wife, Christine of Blairsville, Georgia; a daughter, Amy Foutch and husband, John, of Laurens; four grandchildren, Steven and Nicholas Byrd, Charles (Jenni) Foutch and Catherine (Phil) Schultz; a great grandson, Whitaker Foutch; a brother, John Loeffler and wife, Celia; and many loving nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband of 43 years, Roger, she was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Victor Hildebrandt.
The Rite of the Burial of the Dead will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 21, 2017, at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartwick Seminary, with the Rev. Paul R. Messner, S.T.S., pastor officiating.
The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery.
As an alternative to flowers, Katherine's family would appreciate memorial donations in her name to Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4636 State Highway 28, Hartwick Seminary, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
