Obituary of William Floyd Byrd

Bill Byrd was born on October 8, 1943, in Norfolk, Virginia to Aubrey and Lucille Byrd, while his father was stationed in the Pacific Theater during World War ll. He spent most of his growing up years in Aurora, Colorado, and after high school he enrolled at Arizona State University.

Inspired by his father, who was an educator, Bill entered college ambitious to become a teacher. He found that he enjoyed the sciences and graduated as an electrical engineer.

His life changed in 1963 when he met Judie Casey Byrd at Fellowship Bible Church in Phoenix. They married two years later.

He spent two and a half years as an engineer on the Arizona Salt River Project in Phoenix, helping bring power to this rapidly growing area, but that work was cut short by the Vietnam War. He enlisted in the Army and served as a Lieutenant in South Korea.

He completed his military service at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey where their daughter, Teresa, was born. He and Judie moved to Chino, California where he completed a graduate degree in psychology and they had their second child, Brian. They moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona where Bill taught high school math, coached baseball, and set up Vocational Education programs in junior colleges and high schools. They had their third child, David, in Sierra Vista.

Besides his formal jobs, Bill was constantly hatching small business ideas including a TV repair shop in their garage, raising baby calves, and running a women's clothing shop. This culminated in his opening the first Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Shop in Sierra Vista.

In 1977, Bill purchased a small Fort Worth chocolate factory called the Sweet Shop. Convincing the Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale buyers to take a chance on his hand-dipped chocolates, his business took off. For fifteen years, he and his team manufactured and sold the country's finest chocolates, becoming the largest hand-dipped chocolate maker in America. No one loved the chocolates more than Bill.

Bill loved to serve, and he was on the board of several non-profit and parachurch organizations. He joined with his close friend, Lee Clay, his brother, Bob and several others, to found a Christian school in Mexico. He served for 16 years as an elder at McKinney Bible Church, where he and Judie also taught a young marrieds class.

Until the end of his life, Bill was passionate about mentoring young entrepreneurs. He gave them business and spiritual counsel, was their chief encourager, but mostly he was their faithful friend.

Bill always considered his most important service was to his children and grandchildren, with the goal of helping them follow Jesus. His constant mantra with his grandkids was to "have fun" together. He rarely missed a sports event or school presentation. For over 20 years, Sunday evenings would find Bill and Judie hosting all their children and grandchildren around the dining table, eating, laughing, and talking. Each week, Bill gave one of his life lessons centered around some scripture he had read. He was happiest around his family.

Bill's faith in Christ and love for Him as his Lord, Creator, and Savior never wavered. He regularly prayed, worshiped, and read the scriptures, as evidenced by the myriad of notebooks of thoughts, prayers, and inspiration he left behind. Those around him certainly experienced the peace and joy that emanated from him because of his faith in Jesus.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Judie; daughter Teresa Shurtz and her husband, Dave, son Brian Byrd and his wife, Stephanie, and son David Byrd and his wife, Ceara; his grandchildren Taylor Shurtz Davis and her husband, Pate, Steven Shurtz and his wife Molly, and Allison, Austin, and Wyatt Byrd; and his great grandchildren Collins and Leighton Casey Davis and Scotty Shurtz (due in September).

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 26, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Doxology Church.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Bill are encouraged to donate to Unbound Now at UnboundNow.org.