David William Byers of Central Point, Oregon, died on August 17, 2022, at the age of 83 after a long battle with dementia. A beloved father, husband, brother, and friend, David didn’t know a stranger and had a gift for making everyone he encountered feel like they were valued.
David was born on October 1, 1938, in Medford, Oregon. He was the third of six children born to Henry and Edith Byers. He is preceded in death by his sisters Doris Sinclair and Donna McGee, and a granddaughter, Megan Wolff.
David’s childhood was colorful and lively with six kids in the house. His father, Henry, bought a home on Hanley Road, and decided his “city” kids needed to learn to raise their own food. They had a large garden, pigs, and hundreds of chickens. The kids were supposed to be responsible for the care of the animals and tending the garden, but David and his brother, Dean, found it much more entertaining to have BB gun wars. His parents also owned a well-known restaurant in Medford, Henry’s Drive-in, where David worked and hung out with friends during his teenage years.
It was at Crater High School where David first met his future wife, Helen Hood. He graduated from high school in 1956 and entered the Army Reserves in 1957. David and Helen married on July 3, 1959, and remained the best of friends, devoted to each other for 63 years. With a young family, and while working nights at United Grocers, David pursued a business marketing degree at Southern Oregon College, graduating in 1974, and had a long career in the food industry as a regional manager with Sysco Food Service.
David and Helen spent many happy years camping with family and friends and spending time at Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands where they own a home. When he retired in 2004, David and Helen traveled in their motorhome with their cat for months on end, enjoying sight-seeing and each other’s company. They never failed to be present at their grandchildren’s events and spent many hours sitting on bleachers to show their support.
David was known for his faith, sharing the gospel with passion and conviction. Anyone that was fortunate enough to have known David all agree that he loved to have fun, had a great sense of humor, a quick smile, and would go out of his way to help anyone that needed it. He guided many on their path to their own faith and always offered words of wisdom, a listening ear, or a comforting hug.
David is survived by his siblings Dean Byers, Betty Heap, and Barbara Young; his wife, Helen Byers, and his children Doug Byers (Sue), Dixie Hockema (Chuck), Dianne Wolff (Dan); eight grandchildren, Zach Byers, Kaci Grosbeck (Jake), Bo Jolley (Clairissa), Jen McCurdy, Jeff Hockema, Jamie Hockema, Brandi Werner (Josh), Austin Wolff; and eight great-grandchildren Chloe, Brody, Gunnar, Preslie, Harper, Walker, Evelyn, and baby boy Werner due in October.
A memorial service will be held at Table Rock Fellowship on Saturday, September 3rd, at 10:00 a.m. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to The Dove Media, Inc., 2070 Milligan Way, Medford, OR 97504. David found great comfort watching and listening to programs on The Dove.