Funeral services for Jasper Paul Byerly, who passed away October 8, will be Friday, October 12 at 11:00 AM at North End Baptist Church of Beaumont, TX. A gathering of friends and family will be Thursday, October 11 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home. Graveside services will take place Saturday, October 13 at 11:00 AM at Waldrop Cemetery, Panola County, TX.
Born August 2, 1920, in Beaumont, to Purdee Ebner and Opal Agatha Haley Byerly, Paul was the oldest of four sons. He served with the Army Air Corps in World War II as an instrument man on a B-29 named 'Kickapoo Loo" after the pilot's wife. He crossed the Hump from India to China enroute to bombing Japan. March 3, 1945, they were shot down in Japanese held waters & picked up after 24 hours and confined in Changi Prison. He was held in solitary confinement part of the time or with one other prisoner. Prior to a beheading date he was facing, the atomic bombs fell on Japan. This caused his liberation and transfer to a POW camp where on September 4, they were resuced by the Americans. They were sent to New York for two weeks, of which 8 days were in a hospital. While there, he met his uncle, Ernest Byerly and found out his family was told he was missing in action. He was given furlough and went to Beaumont where his mother was at home. She called his Father who borrowed a bicycle so he could come home to see his son.
While Jasper Paul Byerly would never admit it, he was one of that 'greatest generation' written of by Tom Brokaw. Proof of that is written in his Military DD-214 discharge papers as follows:
Air Offensive Japan, Asiatic-Pacific Theater with 5 Battle Stars, Phillippine Liberation with 1 Battle Star, Vicotry Medal WWII, Purple Heart with 1 Bronze Cluster, Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Wounded in Action March 3, 1945, POW Japan from March 3, 1945 through September 7, 1945, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Distinguished Unit Badge with 1 Bronze Cluster.
He married Patsy Ruth Woods, of Beckville, TX on September 19, 1949. Mr. Byerly was a faithful member of North End Baptist Church for over 63 years. After retiring from Mobil Oil Refinery in 1980, he devoted his time and efforts to the Texas Baptist Men "Building Churches to the Glory of God" for many years, helping to build over 100 churches.
Preceded in death by his parents and brothers; Jack Robert, Marvin Gilbert and John Franklin Byerly, Paul is survived by his wife of 63 years, Patsy of Beaumont; his three children, Janice Dale Polk of Leander, TX, Donna Michael Dreis, of Gaithersburg, MD and James Byerly of Beaumont; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Jonathan Polk Sarah Emerson, Catherine Patrick Jones and son, Finnegan, Elizabeth Stuart Jones, Joshua Talita Dreis and son, Lucas and Phillip Dreis Amanda Straubb.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron, Dallas, 75227 or North End Baptist Church of Beaumont, 5115 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont, 77706.