James "Jim" Eugene Byrd

James Eugene Byrd, age 62, of Plano, Texas, passed away on March 23, 2019, surrounded by his family. He was known as Jim to his friends and family and Jimmy to his sisters. Jim was the oldest of four children, born in Sanger Texas to Gene and Cecil Byrd.

Jim graduated from Slidell High School and obtained a business degree from North Texas State University.

He loved his wife and daughter very much, along with all his animals. He will be missed very much. He was a very generous, kind, and private person. He was friendly to everybody he met, humorous, and a incurable jokester. He was a much loved father, husband, son, and brother. He was a very successful businessman and lifelong athlete. In high school he rode bulls and broncs in local rodeos. He played basketball, boxed, weight lifted, and was a competitive cyclist and adventure racer. Jim loved riding and competing with his friends and never tired of recounting stories from their rides and races. Jim was instrumental in founding his cycling team, G.S. Tenzing and a pillar in the Texas  cycling community. His brother-in-law Mike, taught him to fly and he was a licensed pilot. Jim had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and incessantly read, studied, and debated many subjects, especially politics. He was a blogger and an author of satirical articles such as "Welfare Ain't What It Used To Be."

Jim is preceded in death by his mother Cecil, and brother John; his beloved pets Ally, Dot, Izzy, Scout, Heidi, Yuki, Sandy, Sneezy and Maggy.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Sylvia, daughter Lauren; Father Gene Byrd; Mother-in-law Maria Teresa Ortiz; sister Terry Dornan and her husband Mike; sister Lynda Byrd; nephew Jordan Dornan and his wife Katie, children Sadie and Maggie; nephew Kyle Dornan and his wife Margo; niece Lynsy Dornan and niece Derick Dornan; many aunts, uncles and cousins; His beloved dogs, Sophie, Isie and Gracie; All his friends, whom he loved very much.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at the Allen Family Funeral Options Chapel.