Dateline; Asheville , NC

Kathleen Parsons Byrd, age 94 of Asheville , passed away peacefully on April 9, 2016 at her home. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and friend whose kindness to others was constantly demonstrated. She enjoyed traveling with her friends, was an avid reader, loved her water aerobics classes at YMCA and was a keen observer of the world.

She was born August 5, 1921 in Mitchell County to the late William Bascombe Parsons and Lillian McKinney Parsons. After graduating from Bakersville Bowman High School , she attended Asheville Normal and Teachers College in Asheville , and graduated from Evans College of Commerce in Gastonia . She worked for the U.S. government for 32 years, holding positions with the Veterans Administration in Washington , DC , Moore General Hospital in Swannanoa, the Social Security Administration, U.S. Forest Service in Burnsville , and retired from Oteen VA Hospital in 1979. Mrs. Byrd was a long time member of West Asheville Baptist Church .

Mrs. Byrd is survived by her daughter, Jackie Lynn Byrd, and sons William Larry Byrd and Ronald James Byrd, grandson Damon Byrd, special friends, Sylvia Nicks, Jean Brewer, Julia Cook, Arlene Mountain , Shirley Entwistle, and Anna Foster, all of Asheville , NC , and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Rilla Ann Bates, and her husbands Norman Crawford Byrd and Charles Lester Byrd, Jr.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 3:00PM at Snow Hill Cemetery , with Andy Willis officiating. Interment will follow the service. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Asheville. Memorials may be made to: West Asheville Library 942 Haywood Road Asheville, NC 28806.