Oakdale-George Lee Byrd, 85, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home of Oakdale. Rev. Greg Willis will officiate. Burial will follow at Pecan Grove Cemetery under the direction of Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Homes.

The family will receive visitors at Ardoin/Allen Parish Funeral Home on Thursday, December 29, 2022, from 9 a.m. until time of service.

George, who was so fondly called "B" by his family, was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved his family with all his heart. His greatest joy in life was being with his family and friends along with his passion for fishing. He was born and raised in Oakdale and loved to stroll down memory lane and take rides to where he was raised and remember the good ole days of growing up on the Calcasieu River. He told me many stories of growing up and some of the hard times they endured and, also some enjoyable times. He as the oldest of his siblings and helped his mother with household work. He could iron a pair of blue jeans better than anyone with the best crease, which at one time was in style. He attended Oakdale High School when he could but quit school to work and help his family.

He later married the love of his life, Audrey, in 1957, and began his career working at the Elizabeth Paper Mill where he worked for 11 years. He then decided to give the oilfield a try where he remained for 34 years until his retirement. He started working a roughneck in the Gulf of Mexico for Penrod Drilling Company and worked his way up to a subsea engineer where he traveled to different countries working overseas until his retirement.

When he was not working, you could find him on Toledo Bend where he was blessed to have a camp and enjoy his love for fishing. He told me stories of his dad not wanting him to fish when he was a child, but one day he came home with a stringer full of fish and his dad was so proud of him. From then on, his love for fishing continued to grow. He loved fishing on the Calcasieu River. He enjoyed telling his daughter the stories of him bringing her fishing when she was just a toddler and would fall asleep in the boat. He bass fished for many, many years until he decided to start catfishing. He loved setting out lines and would get so excited when he had big ones tugging on his lines, especially a spotted cat. Dad could fry the best fish and made his own hushpuppies.

Another one of his greatest pastimes was sitting on the back porch with his feet propped up on the column where he loved to sit and watch the squirrels play in the yard and the hummingbirds coming to his many feeders. He loved working in his yard and keeping all the pine straw swept up, which was a full-time job. He enjoyed drinking his morning coffee and visiting with his good friend, Jerry Duos, on the back porch. Dad also enjoyed visiting with another one of his good friends, Mr. John Campbell, who would always stop by for a visit and check on him. Dad made friends easily and everyone loved him.

Another of dad's favorite past-times was going to McDonalds to meet the breakfast crew and drink a cup of coffee and catch up on the latest news. He loved to eat at Burger Inn and at Carl's Catfish. Dad will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.

Those left to cherish George's memory include his daughters, Peggy Byrd and Jenny Johnson (Michael) of Oakdale (JJ as he loved to call her); brother, W.H. Byrd (Christine) of Fred, TX; grandchildren, Kristi Lynn Boudreaux (Cheyenne) of Lake Charles, Blake Byrd (Caitlin) of Oakdale and Mika Johnson of Turkey Creek; great grandchildren, Konner Boudreaux, Klayton Byrd, Bryson Byrd, and Collins Boudreaux; and a very special sister-in-law, Nell McComic of Oberlin; as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

George is preceded in death by his loving wife of 64 years, Audrey McComic Byrd; parents, George Melvin Byrd, and Naomi Fogleman Byrd; and two sisters, Margie Byrd Melder, and Pat Byrd Townson.

The family would like to say a special thanks to Allen Oaks Nursing Home and Brighton Bridge Hospice for taking such good care of their dad.

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.ardoinfuneralhome.com or on Facebook-Ardoin//Allen Parish Funeral Homes.