Hira "Bud" Byers Jr. (88) of Effingham

Hira “Bud” Byers Jr., 88, of Effingham, Illinois, passed away Monday, October 30, 2017 at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services and Masonic Rites will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, November 2 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be at Keens Chapel Cemetery, rural LaClede at a later date. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church in Effingham, or the Salvation Army.

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Hira was born November 14, 1928, in Iola, the son of Hira A. and Jennie (Rufty) Byers. He was united in marriage to Genevieve E. Keeler November 20, 1948. Bud was employed his entire career on the railroad, first with Illinois Central and later retiring with Amtrak. Bud was a member of the First Christian Church in Effingham. He was an avid golfer for many years and also enjoyed fishing and mushroom hunting. Bud especially enjoyed his time with the coffee club at Martins IGA.

Bud is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Genevieve “Gen” Byers of Effingham; daughters, Brenda (husband Lou) Haskett of Neoga, Nancy (husband Carl, deceased) Miller of Shelbyville, and Patricia Claybaugh of Mahomet; six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and four-legged companion, Misty.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Franklin Byers; and sisters, Margaret Haun, Ruth Forbes, and Nona Jean DeHart.