Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Byers, 86, of Karns City R.D. 1 and the Fairview area died at 6 a.m. Tuesday at the home of her daughter in Erie County, after a long illness.

Born in Butler, Jan. 11, 1920, she was the daughter of Harry E. and Pearl Ewing Ort.

She was a graduate of the New Castle Business College and had taught high school business classes, including typing and shorthand, in East Brady and Worthington. She retired as a secretary at Damon Industries in Bradys Bend.

Mrs. Byers was a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church of Chicora and the Women's Prayer Band, and the Hostess Committee of the church.

Surviving are her husband, James Moore Byers, whom she married May 19, 1943; a daughter, Mrs. Jerry (Sandra) Pyle of Union City, Erie County; two grandchildren, Christine and her husband, Douglas Burlingame, of Lake City, Erie County, and Marie and her husband, William Shearer, of Willoughby, Ohio, and two great-grandchildren, Amanda and Curtis Burlingame, both of Lake City.

Two sisters, Mrs. Chauncey (Ella Mae) Forbush and Mrs. Lloyd (Annabelle) Fombelle, both of New Castle, also survive.

<B>BYERS</B> — Friends of Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Byers, who died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>STEIGHNER FUNERAL HOME</B>, 111 E. Slippery Rock St., Chicora. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Mark Wallace, her church pastor, officiating. Burial will be at the Bear Creek Cemetery, Petrolia.