Patsy Ruth Woods Byerly was born on February 16, 1929, in Panola County, Texas to the late Thomas Monnie and Bessie Edna Brown Woods. She was child seven of eight. Her Mama wrote: first Christmas, "Santa remembered our Little Patsy Ruth with a pretty doll and a box of fruit, much to the delight of her sisters and brothers"; favorite toys, "Dolls, Tinker Toys, but most of all a book or paper with pretty pictures which she never tears at the age of 14 months"; "Our Patsy Ruth is a blue eyed, smiling baby with dimples in her cheeks, and has dark curly hair. She is the delight of our home. She is a treasure more than gold."

After graduating high school, she worked in a doctor's office, a department store, and then Darco.

She was introduced to her future husband by a young man who attended her church, Martin Spell, who was friends with Paul. Patsy married Jasper Paul Byerly on September 19, 1949, in Marshall, Texas.  After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Byerly resided in Beaumont, Texas, where they became members of North End Baptist Church, and raised a family of two daughters and one son. Over the years, Patsy worked in the church's children's department, Vacation Bible School, nursery and finally the library; she had a lifelong love of books.

Patsy was a stay at home mother since Paul was a shift worker at Mobil Oil. She was always there and ready to help her family. She loved to sew, making most of the clothes for her daughters. She would later take up quilting, making quilts for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and prayer quilts. She also loved working on genealogy, especially the trips she took with her sister Monnie Bess.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Byerly was preceded in death by her husband, four brothers and three sisters. Mrs. Byerly is survived by one sister-in-law, Doris Byerly of Houston, Texas; two daughters, Janice Polk (Dale) of Leander, Texas, and Donna Dreis (Michael) of Gaithersburg, Maryland; one son, James Byerly (LaNell Wilson) of Beaumont, Texas, She is also survived by grandchildren, Jonathan Polk, Catherine Jones (Patrick), Elizabeth Jones (Stuart), Joshua Dreis (Talita), Phillip Dreis (Amanda Straub); & great-grandchildren Jasper Polk, Finnegan & Sullivan Jones, Caleb & Callie Jones, Lucas & Nicholas Dreis. One of Patsy's favorite songs was "I Can Only Imagine". May it also bless you.

Mrs. Byerly passed away on Friday morning, Dec. 21, 2018, in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 5, 2019, at Waldrop Cemetery with Dr. Dale Reed officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home prior to the graveside service.

Pallbearers are Michael Dreis, Joshua Dreis, Phillip Dreis, Jonathan Polk, Tom Woods, and Cliff Woods.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.