Marie Adeline Byrkit
1916 – 2020
Marie Adeline Byrkit passed away on May 29, 2020. She was born in Forrest, Illinois on Feb. 12, 1916 but grew up in Decatur, Illinois. Her parents were Charles and Lillian Gould. Marie was a graduate of Decatur High School with high honors and a gold letter. She graduated at Eastern Illinois State Teacher College and did graduate work at Bradley University, Illinois State, and the University of Illinois with Master’s Status. Marie received a B.E. degree from Pestalazzi Froebel teachers’ college in Chicago. She taught elementary grades for twenty-five years in Decatur and Peoria, Illinois. Marie married the love of her life Jack Byrkit in Prairie Ave. Christian Church in Decatur, Illinois in 1943. They met in youth group. Jack passed away April 26, 2006. Jack was transferred to Peoria, Illinois in 1943, and they remained in Peoria until March 1998 when they moved to Edmond, Oklahoma to be near their son, Gary, and daughter-in-law Annie, and family. Gary was the senior minister of Southern Hills Christian Church in Edmond. Marie was a 50 plus member of First Christian Church in Peoria and was active in S.S. (teacher and superintendent) and C.W.F. (held all office). She was active in Peoria Retired Teacher (life member of P.E.A., I.L.E.A and N.E.A.) and for many years was a member of University Women. She was an ordained deacon and elder and was an associate member of Proctor Hospital in Peoria.
She is survived by two sons; David Byrkit, and wife Sharon, of Peoria, Illinois; and Mark Byrkit, and wife Elaine, of Plano, Texas; and daughter-in-law Annie of Edmond, OK. Eight grandchildren, Heather and husband Mark Bower of Boston; , Hilary and husband George Lambert of Boston, Charles Byrkit and wife Kristin of Dallas, Aaron Byrkit and wife Sarah of Dallas, Trevor Byrkit of Edmond, Briana Marie and husband Caymen Currell of Oklahoma City, Christine Byrkit of Plano, Tracey and her husband James Bridges of Plano; and great grandsons; George, Robert, and Thomas Lambert; Troy and Roman Bridges; Harrison and Wells Byrkit; Scarlett Bower.
Her son, Gary Dean Byrkit, her parents, Charles and Lillian Gould and three sisters; LaVerne Miller, Ruth Young, and Helen Robbins preceded her in death.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church in Peoria, Illinois or Southern Hills Christian Church in Edmond, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, OK on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 10:00 A.M.
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but feel they should not due to the health environment. To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Then click on ‘Videos’ then ‘Live Streams’.
A true Christian lady and prayer warrior.
Our lives are better because of knowing you, Marie. We will miss you and always remember you with smiles.
Peace to your family,
Kerry and Steve Horst
Enjoyed my visits with Marie. She was such a strong Christian woman. I loved listening th her lifetime of stories.
Marie was a sweet, sincere person who loved the church and spent time in prayer for others each day. I was lucky to know her.
We loved visiting with Marie at church, then at Bradford Village when she could no longer come to church. She was a wonderful positive person who was a light to all. What a strong faith she had. When we would sing, we would notice that Marie never needed the words. She had them in her heart. As teachers, we loved hearing her stories of her elementary age students. She touched so many lives and made the world a better place. Love and peace to the family.
Marie was light, love, grace, and peace. She loved everyone. Anytime I would visit she would redirect attention from her and ask about me, my family, the church, anyone but herself. She was so proud of her family, and I loved hearing her stories. I looked forward to seeing her when I would get to serve at Bradford Village, and she was always positive about the service. I feel so blessed to have known her. She will be missed. ♡
Two memories of Marie stand out for me.
1) Being at her side when her son died.
2) Bring asked to take her absentee ballot to the post office so her vote would count.
What a lovely devoted woman she was.
I’ll remember Marie as a kind person who always greeted me with a smile, and asked about my family, and especially my mother who lived at Bradford Village for a short time. I’m grateful for having been blessed to know Gary, the spirit-filled son she raised to share the Gospel. Thank you Marie for the legacy you leave.
Ellen Beer
Marie was a dear lady and I am glad to have known her.