Julia Eley Byers

Julia Eley Byers, age 98, of Grants Pass, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Wynwood of Rogue Valley in Medford.

A graveside service will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Julia was born February 25, 1916 in Los Angeles, California to Clarence A. Eley & Beatrice (Ogden) Eley. She was raised and attended school in the Los Angeles area. On November 29, 1940 in Yuma, Arizona she married Quentin Stephens Byers.

The Byers lived in Los Angeles until the early 1960s. Julia was active in PTA during her children’s early school years, elected to executive positions in the city wide PTA. She was a popular speaker at many PTA and related events, entertaining audiences with stories of family life. She later worked in the family business that provided equipment and supplies to service stations in the greater Los Angeles area. While in Los Angeles, both Julia and her husband were active in promoting widespread rabies vaccinations for dogs, and were guests on TV shows urging responsible pet ownership. After she and her husband retired to the Rogue Valley in 1964, Julia worked for Doran Taylor real estate selling residential property.

Julia was a member and past President of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha women’s sorority, and retained membership in the Elks for several years after her husband passed away.

Soon after moving to the Grants Pass area she joined the hospital auxiliary and volunteered there for several years.

Her hobbies included weekly Bridge games with women friends and painting China kitchenware that she had fired in her kiln. She also enjoyed traveling, visiting Russia, countries in the Middle East, as well as many areas throughout the United States and Canada.

Survivors include a daughter, Judy Byers Thompson of Austin, Texas; a son, Michael Byers of Tucson, Arizona; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband Steve Byers in 1975; her brother, Paul Einsel; and her sister, Ruth Hazuka.