Mary Belle Byrd, 103, of Oklahoma City and formerly of Wichita Falls Texas, passed away at Epworth Villa Retirement Center in Oklahoma City on June 1, 2009. 

She was born in Victory, Oklahoma Territory, on Oct. 24, 1905, to Isaac M. and Altha M. Byrd. After graduating from Victory High School in 1923, she received her teaching credentials from Southwestern State Teachers College in 1923, her Bachelor of Arts from O.U. in 1929, and her Masters of Arts from Columbia University, New York City, in 1941. Mary taught at Altus Junior High from 1929 – 1937. She then exchanged places with Miss Elfie Savage, and taught History in Wichita Falls, Texas, until her retirement in 1973. She was a member of the Texas Retired Teachers Assn., a past president of the American Assn. of University Women, volunteered for the Red Cross, the Texas Dept of Public Safety and as an Army Nurses Aide during World War 2. 

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Katherine J. (Byrd) Rogers and husband Fred, Ethyl Pearl (Byrd) Foster, Clara (Byrd) Angilly and husband Art, her brother Charles M. Byrd and wife Nelda M. (Morris) Byrd; and her nephew, Arthur O. Angilly. 

She is survived by her nieces, Cheryl M. Byrd of Oklahoma City, Carolyn A. (Angilly) Herr and husband Jack of Ridgefield Conn., Dorothy A. (Rogers) Willis of Altus, Marjorie L. (Marshall) Angilly of Deland Fla.; and numerous grand- and great- grandnieces and nephews. 

Memorial services will be held at Highland Heights UMC, 1911 N. Main in Altus, on Saturday, June 13, at 11 a.m.,  and at the Brill Chapel at Epworth Villa at 14901 N. Penn Ave in Oklahoma City at 2 p.m., on Saturday June 20. 

Online condolences may be made at www.mcneilsmustangfs.com