Elizabeth Louise Machen Byrd, 93, passed away on July 12, 2023, in Morgantown, surrounded by her family.
She was highly intelligent, well read, opinionated, curious, poetic, humorous, loving, and passionate about her family, friends, and her beliefs. That best describes Elizabeth Louise Machen Byrd, a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who lived a life filled with gratitude and love for her family and many friends.
She taught her five daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren many things about life and love, among them – set a beautiful table, surround yourself with flowers and things that you find beautiful, call your loved ones and friends often, write letters and thank you cards, call your local librarian for inquiries, keep up on current events, but do not forget past history, and never stop learning. Always ask questions.
Above all, she valued honesty and truth. There was nothing one could not share with her. Most importantly, she wanted to ensure that each person in the family had a home to come to. She had an open-door policy that forever lives on. She used her generosity and all her resources to preserve her family and to keep them connected.
Elizabeth was born Jan. 17, 1930, in Itasca, Texas, to Bernice and Dorothy Sweeney Machen, the oldest of three children. Her dad owned a grocery store where she often worked while attending public school. Her maternal grandparents had a farm nearby and she loved sitting on their porch and being pampered as the first grandchild in the family.
She met and married her handsome husband, 1st Lt. Leland Byrd, when she worked for the U.S. Army at the Red River Arsenal in Texarkana, Texas. In fact, the soldiers stationed there voted her “Miss Bombshell.”
The couple enjoyed 69 years of marriage until Leland’s passing in January 2022 – traveling, attending and watching sporting events – especially West Virginia University and Western Michigan teams and Final Fours – playing bridge, scrabble and Sequence and raising and keeping connected a large, loving family.
As a young mother, she earned two degrees (BS and Master’s) and worked as a public-school teacher in Gilmer County, while serving in local and state PTA positions, maintaining a home, raising a family, and assisting her husband, Leland, in earning his Ph.D. She also assisted her brother Jim in securing his college degree.
She remained supportive of Leland’s athletic administration career. In fact, their years at Glenville State College and Western Michigan University were among her most cherished because of the strong, lasting friendships they formed.
When the family moved to Ft Lauderdale, Fla., in 1966, she continued to teach, but soon found a new love – tutoring children with exceptional learning styles. She created a phonetic reading program called Fonalfabet and was an early adapter of technology. She was important in the lives of her students and their parents. One of her very first students continued to call regularly, reminding her how much her mentoring and support had impacted his life.
Elizabeth was a great cook, famous for her southern dishes – chicken and dumplings, homemade rolls and pies and her signature shrimp bisque. As a lasting gift, she left those recipes along with all the family favorites in a hand-written cookbook. She loved to entertain, serving champagne and using her
starched linens, sterling silver, fine china, and crystal. The holidays were always a special time for her to bring the family together and celebrate traditions unique to her loved ones.
She also left behind many poems, letters and friendship books that have special meaning to each person who received one.
Until recently, Elizabeth and Leland would spend the winter months in their condominium on the intercoastal in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., enjoying time with daughter, Mary, granddaughters Taylor and Christine, and son-in-law Michael. Her condominium was decorated with her artist friend’s exquisite paintings – one of her many best friends in life, Edith Ferullo.
Elizabeth is survived by her five daughters and their families, Dr. Deborah Lea Byrd and son, Derek, of Easton, Pa.; Becky Lofstead and husband, Dan, of Bluffton, S.C., and daughter, Macall Gardner and spouse, Jason Gardner of Farmington, N.Y. and son, Chris Lofstead of Morgantown, and his two sons, Hunter and Evan Lofstead; Cindy Byrd of Morgantown, and son, Chris, his wife, Iris, and son Mateo, of Morgantown, and daughter Lauren Conner, and spouse, Rusty Conner, and their sons, Carson and Mason, of Fairmont,; Mary Byrd and daughter, Taylor, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Nancy Byrd, of Morgantown, and daughter, Christine Grant, and husband, Michael Grant, of Tamarac, Fla.
Elizabeth is also survived by her sister, Joan McCamon and husband, Bill, of Amarillo, Texas; and sister-in-law, Pat Byrd, of Fort Myers, Fla.; along with many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leland Byrd; brother, Jim Machen; and parents, Bernice and Dorothy Machen.
The family is forever grateful to Nancy, the youngest of the five daughters, who lived with Elizabeth and cared for Mom and Dad with much love and compassion in their final years. And a big thank you to Mom’s Hospice nurses and caregivers, true angels, who gave their time and attention to Mom in her final years.
A celebration of Elizabeth’s life will take place at a later date. In her memory, donate to a local library, write to a loved one, call a friend, have a glass of champagne, support Amedisys Hospice Care or Planned Parenthood, and vote.
