Barbara Byron

Barbara J. Byron, age 64, of Durango, Colorado and formerly of Waseca, died peacefully on Saturday, July 5, 2014 from Mantle Cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Durango.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Waseca, with Father Gregory Leif officiating. Private family interment will be held at the Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial visitation will be held at the McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Waseca on Friday, July 11 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. There will be no visitation at the church on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, Barb's family requests that memorials be given to Heifer International, Hospice of Mercy Building Fund in Durango, Children's Hospital Colorado, or to the donor's choice in her memory.

Barbara, the daughter of Frank A. and Marian F. (Frederick) Byron, was born on November 14, 1949 in Waseca. She attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduated with the class of 1967. She continued her education at the College of St. Teresa where she graduated with the class of 1971. Barb then moved to Denver and began her career as a medical technologist and eventually moved to Durango in 1984 where she continued in the health care field until her retirement. Whether it was birding, hiking or climbing mountains, Barb loved the outdoors. She was a hospice volunteer and offered care and support to all who knew her.

She is survived by her step-children and grandchildren, Jhon (Kelly) Kehmeier, Everest, Garrett, and Cooper, Sean (Melanie) Kehmeier, Kaylin and Conner, and Tahn Kehmeier, all of Colorado; her mother, Marian Byron of Waseca; her sister, Nancy (Mike) McLoone of Mankato, their children and grandchildren, Michael (Katie) McLoone, Delaney, Aidan, Keiran and Cavanaugh, Katie (Jason) Marsh, Brady and Evan, Liz (Nate) Dybvig, Maggie (Tom) Dawson, Bridget McLoone, and Patrick McLoone; and her brother Mark (Karen) Byron of Waseca and children, Carrie (Jett Hitt) Byron of Gardiner, Montana and Andrew Byron of Sacramento, California. Barb is also survived by her aunts and uncle, Sister Michaea Byron, OSF, of Rochester, Jeanette Byron of Waseca, Jean Byron of Waseca, and Gary (Connie) Frederick of Denmark, WI; and by many other relatives and friends both in Minnesota and Colorado.

She was preceded in death by several aunts, uncles, her grandparents and cousin and most recently by her father, Frank Byron on August 29, 2013.