Las Cruces - Lillian Florine Byrd was born December 4, 1964 and for the next 56 years she never let her family forget it. Lillian was born in Las Cruces, NM to her parents, Ann and Charles Byrd. She was born with, but not particularly handicapped by, Down's Syndrome. Ignoring the suggestion of institutionalizing her and following the sound advice of a beloved family doctor, Ann and Charlie brought Lillian home to join her three older siblings and the Byrd family was never the same. She brought much joy, laughter, a little bit of frustration, many unexpected surprises and a whole lot of lessons in love into the home.
Lillian passed away peacefully June 23, 2021 surrounded by her family.
Lillian's mother, Ann, fought hard to give her every educational opportunity possible and Lillian became the first child with Down's to be accepted into the educable special education program in the state of New Mexico. She attended school at Mesilla Park Elementary, Zia Junior High and Las Cruces High School, graduating in the Class of '83.
After watching her older siblings move out of the family home, she informed her parents that she wanted to do the same. After many months of debating and searching for the right place, Lillian moved to the CARC Farm in Carlsbad, NM, for a trial run that lasted 32 years. There she made many lifelong friends, including her dearest friend, Robert Cruz. Her years at the CARC Farm were spent working as a clerk for Westinghouse, swimming and bowling with friends, attending numerous dances, once even being crowned Valentine's Day Queen, which thrilled her to no end. She also participated in The Special Olympics every chance she got. Although she would obediently recite The Special Olympics Oath, she never believed that she couldn't win and wasn't particularly pleased when she didn't. She was extremely competitive in swimming, bowling and bocce ball. She was a faithful member of the Happy Valley Baptist Church in Carlsbad and enjoyed her Bible study immensely. Lillian was never shy when she was on the dance floor or singing at the top of her lungs to musicals, such as "Annie" and "Grease," among other favorites. She knew all the songs by the Partridge Family and much of her humor and vocabulary came from various television shows of the 60s, 70s and 80s, which she adored.
She is survived by her mother, Ann; her second favorite brother, John (Margaret) of Mesilla Park; sister, Tamara Spooner of Albuquerque; sister-in law, Sherri Byrd of Mesilla Park; and her brother-in-law, Kevin Spooner of Albuquerque. Lillian is survived by seven nieces and nephews, Jason Byrd of McLean, VA; Nicholas Byrd (Alison) of Chula Vista, CA; Lindsey Johnston (Todd) of Newport Beach, CA; Madison Byrd of Newport Beach, CA; Jacob Byrd of Mesilla Park; Abigail Spooner of Northampton, MA; Samuel Spooner of Albuquerque. She is survived by a great niece, Carlina Byrd and a great nephew, Grayson Byrd. Lillian is also survived by many cherished cousins and friends.
Lillian is preceded in death by her beloved father, Charles, and her favorite brother, David.
A funeral was held at St. Paul's Methodist Church, with a burial at Masonic Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Byrd, Jason Byrd, Jacob Byrd, Samuel Spooner, Kevin Spooner, Ken Fielder and Bill Bidal. Honorary pallbearers were Nicholas Byrd, Todd Johnston and Robert Cruz.
Arrangements are with La Paz-Graham's Funeral Home.
Published by Las Cruces Sun News from Jul. 1 to Jul. 8, 2021.
Lillian passed away peacefully June 23, 2021 surrounded by her family.
Lillian's mother, Ann, fought hard to give her every educational opportunity possible and Lillian became the first child with Down's to be accepted into the educable special education program in the state of New Mexico. She attended school at Mesilla Park Elementary, Zia Junior High and Las Cruces High School, graduating in the Class of '83.
After watching her older siblings move out of the family home, she informed her parents that she wanted to do the same. After many months of debating and searching for the right place, Lillian moved to the CARC Farm in Carlsbad, NM, for a trial run that lasted 32 years. There she made many lifelong friends, including her dearest friend, Robert Cruz. Her years at the CARC Farm were spent working as a clerk for Westinghouse, swimming and bowling with friends, attending numerous dances, once even being crowned Valentine's Day Queen, which thrilled her to no end. She also participated in The Special Olympics every chance she got. Although she would obediently recite The Special Olympics Oath, she never believed that she couldn't win and wasn't particularly pleased when she didn't. She was extremely competitive in swimming, bowling and bocce ball. She was a faithful member of the Happy Valley Baptist Church in Carlsbad and enjoyed her Bible study immensely. Lillian was never shy when she was on the dance floor or singing at the top of her lungs to musicals, such as "Annie" and "Grease," among other favorites. She knew all the songs by the Partridge Family and much of her humor and vocabulary came from various television shows of the 60s, 70s and 80s, which she adored.
She is survived by her mother, Ann; her second favorite brother, John (Margaret) of Mesilla Park; sister, Tamara Spooner of Albuquerque; sister-in law, Sherri Byrd of Mesilla Park; and her brother-in-law, Kevin Spooner of Albuquerque. Lillian is survived by seven nieces and nephews, Jason Byrd of McLean, VA; Nicholas Byrd (Alison) of Chula Vista, CA; Lindsey Johnston (Todd) of Newport Beach, CA; Madison Byrd of Newport Beach, CA; Jacob Byrd of Mesilla Park; Abigail Spooner of Northampton, MA; Samuel Spooner of Albuquerque. She is survived by a great niece, Carlina Byrd and a great nephew, Grayson Byrd. Lillian is also survived by many cherished cousins and friends.
Lillian is preceded in death by her beloved father, Charles, and her favorite brother, David.
A funeral was held at St. Paul's Methodist Church, with a burial at Masonic Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Byrd, Jason Byrd, Jacob Byrd, Samuel Spooner, Kevin Spooner, Ken Fielder and Bill Bidal. Honorary pallbearers were Nicholas Byrd, Todd Johnston and Robert Cruz.
Arrangements are with La Paz-Graham's Funeral Home.
Published by Las Cruces Sun News from Jul. 1 to Jul. 8, 2021.
Las Cruces - Lillian Florine Byrd was born December 4, 1964 and for the next 56 years she never let her family forget it. Lillian was born in Las Cruces, NM to her parents, Ann and Charles Byrd. She was born with, but not particularly handicapped by, Down's Syndrome. Ignoring the suggestion of institutionalizing her and following the sound advice of a beloved family doctor, Ann and Charlie brought Lillian home to join her three older siblings and the Byrd family was never the same. She brought much joy, laughter, a little bit of frustration, many unexpected surprises and a whole lot of lessons in love into the home.
Lillian passed away peacefully June 23, 2021 surrounded by her family.
Lillian's mother, Ann, fought hard to give her every educational opportunity possible and Lillian became the first child with Down's to be accepted into the educable special education program in the state of New Mexico. She attended school at Mesilla Park Elementary, Zia Junior High and Las Cruces High School, graduating in the Class of '83.
After watching her older siblings move out of the family home, she informed her parents that she wanted to do the same. After many months of debating and searching for the right place, Lillian moved to the CARC Farm in Carlsbad, NM, for a trial run that lasted 32 years. There she made many lifelong friends, including her dearest friend, Robert Cruz. Her years at the CARC Farm were spent working as a clerk for Westinghouse, swimming and bowling with friends, attending numerous dances, once even being crowned Valentine's Day Queen, which thrilled her to no end. She also participated in The Special Olympics every chance she got. Although she would obediently recite The Special Olympics Oath, she never believed that she couldn't win and wasn't particularly pleased when she didn't. She was extremely competitive in swimming, bowling and bocce ball. She was a faithful member of the Happy Valley Baptist Church in Carlsbad and enjoyed her Bible study immensely. Lillian was never shy when she was on the dance floor or singing at the top of her lungs to musicals, such as "Annie" and "Grease," among other favorites. She knew all the songs by the Partridge Family and much of her humor and vocabulary came from various television shows of the 60s, 70s and 80s, which she adored.
She is survived by her mother, Ann; her second favorite brother, John (Margaret) of Mesilla Park; sister, Tamara Spooner of Albuquerque; sister-in law, Sherri Byrd of Mesilla Park; and her brother-in-law, Kevin Spooner of Albuquerque. Lillian is survived by seven nieces and nephews, Jason Byrd of McLean, VA; Nicholas Byrd (Alison) of Chula Vista, CA; Lindsey Johnston (Todd) of Newport Beach, CA; Madison Byrd of Newport Beach, CA; Jacob Byrd of Mesilla Park; Abigail Spooner of Northampton, MA; Samuel Spooner of Albuquerque. She is survived by a great niece, Carlina Byrd and a great nephew, Grayson Byrd. Lillian is also survived by many cherished cousins and friends.
Lillian is preceded in death by her beloved father, Charles, and her favorite brother, David.
A funeral was held at St. Paul's Methodist Church, with a burial at Masonic Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Byrd, Jason Byrd, Jacob Byrd, Samuel Spooner, Kevin Spooner, Ken Fielder and Bill Bidal. Honorary pallbearers were Nicholas Byrd, Todd Johnston and Robert Cruz.
Arrangements are with La Paz-Graham's Funeral Home.
Published by Las Cruces Sun News from Jul. 1 to Jul. 8, 2021.
Lillian passed away peacefully June 23, 2021 surrounded by her family.
Lillian's mother, Ann, fought hard to give her every educational opportunity possible and Lillian became the first child with Down's to be accepted into the educable special education program in the state of New Mexico. She attended school at Mesilla Park Elementary, Zia Junior High and Las Cruces High School, graduating in the Class of '83.
After watching her older siblings move out of the family home, she informed her parents that she wanted to do the same. After many months of debating and searching for the right place, Lillian moved to the CARC Farm in Carlsbad, NM, for a trial run that lasted 32 years. There she made many lifelong friends, including her dearest friend, Robert Cruz. Her years at the CARC Farm were spent working as a clerk for Westinghouse, swimming and bowling with friends, attending numerous dances, once even being crowned Valentine's Day Queen, which thrilled her to no end. She also participated in The Special Olympics every chance she got. Although she would obediently recite The Special Olympics Oath, she never believed that she couldn't win and wasn't particularly pleased when she didn't. She was extremely competitive in swimming, bowling and bocce ball. She was a faithful member of the Happy Valley Baptist Church in Carlsbad and enjoyed her Bible study immensely. Lillian was never shy when she was on the dance floor or singing at the top of her lungs to musicals, such as "Annie" and "Grease," among other favorites. She knew all the songs by the Partridge Family and much of her humor and vocabulary came from various television shows of the 60s, 70s and 80s, which she adored.
She is survived by her mother, Ann; her second favorite brother, John (Margaret) of Mesilla Park; sister, Tamara Spooner of Albuquerque; sister-in law, Sherri Byrd of Mesilla Park; and her brother-in-law, Kevin Spooner of Albuquerque. Lillian is survived by seven nieces and nephews, Jason Byrd of McLean, VA; Nicholas Byrd (Alison) of Chula Vista, CA; Lindsey Johnston (Todd) of Newport Beach, CA; Madison Byrd of Newport Beach, CA; Jacob Byrd of Mesilla Park; Abigail Spooner of Northampton, MA; Samuel Spooner of Albuquerque. She is survived by a great niece, Carlina Byrd and a great nephew, Grayson Byrd. Lillian is also survived by many cherished cousins and friends.
Lillian is preceded in death by her beloved father, Charles, and her favorite brother, David.
A funeral was held at St. Paul's Methodist Church, with a burial at Masonic Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Byrd, Jason Byrd, Jacob Byrd, Samuel Spooner, Kevin Spooner, Ken Fielder and Bill Bidal. Honorary pallbearers were Nicholas Byrd, Todd Johnston and Robert Cruz.
Arrangements are with La Paz-Graham's Funeral Home.
Published by Las Cruces Sun News from Jul. 1 to Jul. 8, 2021.
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