Phyllis Elaine Bowles Byars

With family by her side, Phyllis Elaine Bowles Byars ended her earthly battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) on June 29th, 2017 at her home in Dickson, Tennessee. Visitation will be held at Spann Funeral Home on Saturday, July 1st, 2017 from 3-7pm and July 2nd, 2017 at 2pm. A funeral service is scheduled for Sunday July 2nd, 2017 at 3pm with Pastor Mike Miller of First Baptist Church officiating. Place of rest will be Dickson County Memorial Gardens. Phyllis was born on November 28th, 1951 in Covington, TN to Edwin Boyce and Edith Mix Bowles both of whom pre-deceased her as did her sister Margie Elmira Warnick, and her twin brothers Edwin Kay and Sanford Ray Bowles. She grew up on a farm with her three sisters and two brothers in Covington, Tennessee. After graduating from Ripley High School, she married John Byars of Covington, Tennessee and moved to Dickson, Tennessee. She worked at Red Cap Industries for several years. She then attended the Dickson Vocational School where she received her diploma as a Licensed Registered Nurse and was named Outstanding LPN Student of the Year. While attending Columbia States Community College, she received her degree as a Registered Nurse. She later attended Bethel University where she received her Bachelors of Science degree in Organizational Business Management and Human Relations. As a nurse, she worked in several settings including nursing homes, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and finally as a Medicare Benefits Coordinator with Cigna HealthSpring. Phyllis was a member of The First Assembly of God in Dickson, Tennessee. She was very active in The Boy Scouts of America where she met many of her life-long friends. While participating in Cub Scouts, she was awarded the Long Rifle Award and earned the Wood Badge. Phyllis is survived by her beloved husband of 45 years, John Russell Byars, Sr, her son, John (Rusty) Russell Byars, Jr. (Lynda), daughter, Amanda Byars Baker (Jeremy), granddaughters Brianna Byars, Savannah Baker, Abigail Baker, Caroline Baker, and Nora Baker and grandson Ryan Byars. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to ALS associated at www.alsa.org.