John Byron Byrd, MD passed away October 27, 2008. He died in an automobile crash south of Wood Lake NE. John had spent the day in a place he loved best, the sandhills of Nebraska, doing what he loved; hunting prairie chicken and grouse, riding horses and running his dogs.

John was born in Amarillo Texas on September 13th, 1944 the son of Roy and Katy (Black) Byrd. At a young age he was out hunting and fishing with his older brother Roy Neal. John graduated high school in Valentine NE. He attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. From there he graduated from Medical School at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha in 1969.

John loved medicine and loved caring for his patients. John actively taught the art of medicine to medical student and residents. He was boarded in Family Medicine and Geriatrics. John recently retired at the age of 63 after thirty nine years as a family physician. He practiced primarily in Kimball NE, Valentine NE, Neligh NE, Sargent NE and Northwood IA. He prided himself on staying current on medicine, attending lots of meetings, reading the latest medical literature, as well as reading textbooks.

John had many hobbies- a lifelong love of hunting & fishing. More recently becoming very involved in cutting horses. Initially riding them, and then starting his own business John Byrd Quarterhorses- breeding, training, buying & selling and still working on mastering the “art” of riding a cutting horse.

John was an avid reader, a budding photographer, & dabbled in gourmet cooking. He was a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.

John is survived by his wife Phyllis, and his son Jay of Northwood Iowa, daughter Jodi Byrd and Elizabeth Tsukahara of Champaign Illinois, sons Matt and wife Cherie of Ogallala NE and Chad and wife Carrie of Wenatchee WA, his parents Roy and Katy of Toyahvale TX.
Brothers Roy of Park City Utah, George, Jeff of Kilene Texas, and sister Becky of Abilene TX. Grandchildren Samantha Byrd of Ogallala, James, Luke, Abby, Megan and Trey Byrd of Wenatchee WA, Jacob and Andrew Henery of Neligh NE.

Tha family has requested memorials be made to the Wood Lake Fire Department, Wood Lake NE 69221.