David Byers

On October 9, 2022, David L. Byers, Jr. of Mahomet, Illinois passed away surrounded by his loving wife, Ann Hedstrom-Byers and daughter, Carissa Ulick. David fought long and hard with his whole spirit against Pulmonary Fibrosis. Unfortunately, he lost that battle too quickly.

A visitation will be held 6 to 8 pm. Monday, October 17, 2022, at Mahomet United Methodist Church followed by a celebration of David’s life beginning at 8 pm. There will be a road closed sign that you can disregard and proceed through the one lane entrance to the church parking lot. A private burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Champaign. Tanzyus-Logan Funeral Service and Care is handling the arrangements.

David was born in April of 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri to be adopted by David L. Byers, Sr. and Lauralea Byers of Decatur, Illinois. His love for his parents David and Lauralea endured throughout his entire life.

Dave and Ann were married in February of 1981. His daughter Carissa came into his life and became the second love of his life. David welcomed John Ulick into the family and felt blessed by the birth of his two grandchildren, Keira and Cade. He always made time to play games, read books, and fish with them!

His careers at Carle Foundation Hospital and the University of Illinois were very important to him. He retired in 2021 as the Associate Director of Organizational Effectiveness. He was passionate about his work in training and development and excelled over the years.

His other great loves include music, sailing, and fishing. Music played a very large part in his life from his early teens until the very end. He played five instruments including drums and guitar which became his instruments of choice. Over the years, he played with many different bands, but foremost were his years with Skillet, Doc Smooth, and the Middletown String Band. Sailing was his release and passion from 1986 until now. If tension was in his life, it would sail away with a visit to the sailboat. Many of our friends were invited and participated in the sailing fun! Fishing came along a little later with trips with his fishing buddies throughout the Midwest. He always came back refreshed even if fish were not caught.

David’s parents David and Lauralea Byers preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Ann Hedstrom-Byers, daughter Carissa (Byers) and John Ulick, grandchildren Keira and Cade Ulick, his sister Beverly (Byers) and Russell VanRheeden, and his Aunt Lila Fornwalt. His extended family were very important to him and included many cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. Please know that he loved you all very much!

Any memorial donation may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation to further research into this horrible disease. https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/get-involved/ways-to-give