Althea Ross Tabor Byrd, 95, of Hollis, died Friday, March 17, 2006, at Colonial Manor I Nursing Home in Hollis. Funeral services were held today at the Dryden Church in Dryden, with J.D. Penington and Tyrone Campbell officiating. Interment was to follow in the Dryden Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Stewart Funeral Service of Hollis.

She was born Dec. 22, 1910, to Ross and Arora (Dill) Tabor in Hollis. She graduated from Hollis High School in 1930. She and Edgar Mose Byrd were married in 1932 at Hollis. To this marriage was born one daughter, Patricia Jo (Byrd) Penington.

She cooked at both the Louis Hill and the Ron schools from 1944 until 1964. She then worked at both Nursing Homes in Hollis until 1990, when she retired at the age of 80. She taught Sunday school in the Methodist Church for many years and was currently a member of Calvary Community Church. Althea enjoyed gardening and she was an immaculate housekeeper and an excellent cook.

She is survived by her daughter, Pat Penington and her husband Dayle of Hollis; one grandson, J.D. Penington and his wife Beth of Hollis; two great-granddaughters, Charity Penington of Hollis, and Kimberly Schulz and her husband Jared of Weatherford; and Gregg Brown of Hollis, whom she considered another grandson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edgar Mose Byrd; her parents, Ross and Arora Tabor; three sisters, Ola May Carter, Alora Hubbard, and Vernell Birdwell; and two brothers, J.R. and Woodrow Tabor.