Katherine Rogers Byrd

Mrs. Byrd, 89, of Bartow, died Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale of Congestive Heart Failure. Her family and friends are invited to the old family homeplace on Floral Avenue from 6 until 9 p.m. on Monday, October 19, for a time of remembrance and fellowship. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 20 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lakeland. Born September 11, 1920, in Pulaski, GA, a daughter of the late Oscar Wesley and Debbie Boyett Rogers, she grew up in Metter, GA, and Highland City, FL. Katherine graduated from Summerlin Institute in Bartow where she met Benjamin Franklin Byrd, Jr., whom she later married on March 6, 1943. Frank preceded Katherine in death on November 19, 2006. Katherine, after gaining a business school's education, worked at Lakeland Highlands Canning Co., Howell Motor Co. in Hartsville, SC, Southern Tool and Die Co. in Winston-Salem, NC, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in Atlanta, GA., where she rose to the office of Treasurer. During her years of working for SACS, she and Frank created and grew the very successful Industrial Mixer Corp. As they approached retirement, Katherine and Frank entered into their long-term dream to return to Florida to pursue the citrus business. They tended their groves with tender loving care for many years until their health began to fail in their 80's. Katherine had a brilliant mind for numbers and throughout her last years, even as she was blinded with Macular Degeneration, could work figures in her head faster than most could with a calculator. Survivors include her son, Bill Byrd and his wife, Mickey, of Stallings, NC; daughter, Bonnie Ley and her husband, Charles, of Bartow; brother, Oscar W. "Johnny" Rogers and his wife, Jane, of Highland City; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; very special friend, Carolyn Gay; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and Frank, Katherine was preceded in death by her sisters, Betty Rogers, Betsy Perryman and Sybil Roberds; and brothers, Homer, Rudolph "Rudy", and J. B. "Red" Rogers. Bill and Bonnie thank Carolyn, Dr. Batardo and Elena, as well as the wonderful staffs of Bartow Regional Medical Center and Good Shepherd Hospice, for their loving and attentive care of our mother. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to Tenoroc High School, 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland, FL 33801. Katherine's family is being served by Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow.