Funeral service for Romelda Colene Byrd will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2025 in the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Kirk Givens, Pastor of Care at Dayspring Community Church officiating.

Burial will follow in the Sterling Cemetery, Sterling, Oklahoma.

Romelda Colene Byrd, 84, of Lawton, Oklahoma, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2025, in Altus, Oklahoma. She was born on October 14, 1940, in Fletcher, Oklahoma, to Oral Asa and Opal Doretta (Brinkley) Andrews. Growing up, she lived in Rush Springs, Marlow, Lawton, and Cache, Oklahoma, before graduating from Cache High School. On December 21, 1956, Romelda married Earl Claud Byrd, Sr., who preceded her in death on January 18, 2013.

Due to her father's work in the dairy industry, Romelda's family moved frequently, including a time in Arizona, where they opened their home to foster children. In 1971, they settled in Lawton, where Romelda held various jobs, including positions at the Lawton Constitution, City National Bank, Great Plains Vo-Tech, and Sterling Public Schools, where she worked as a custodian until her retirement. After her husband's passing, she moved in with her daughter, Loretta, in Lawton.

Romelda had a deep love for classic westerns, especially Gunsmoke, and enjoyed crafting, gardening, and decorating her yard with ornaments. She was an avid shopper at Hobby Lobby and found joy in traveling, visiting destinations such as Plymouth Rock, Niagara Falls, New York, the Statue of Liberty, Washington, D.C., the Grand Canyon, and other national parks. One of her favorite trips was to Magnolia Farms in Waco, Texas. Above all, her greatest pride and joy were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A resilient and determined woman, Romelda was a three-time cancer survivor and even served as the mayor of Sterling, Oklahoma, leaving behind a legacy of strength and devotion to her family and community.

Romelda is survived by her three children, son, Earl Claud Byrd, Jr. and wife Mary of Sterling, Oklahoma, daughters, Loretta Faye King of Lawton, Oklahoma and Janice Williams and husband Ted of Olustee, Oklahoma, five grandchildren, Jason Ferchaud and wife Lori of Keller, Texas, Robert Louiselle, Jr. of Lawton, Oklahoma, Stacey Snell and husband Nick of Belgium, Cody Williams and wife Ashley of Bushland, Texas, Reno Williams of Olustee, Oklahoma, 15 great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren plus one on the way, and other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Romelda is preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one brother, A.J. Andrews.