Byron News: A final salute to Pete Harvey

Pete had many friends. His family honored his long life, just short of 102 years, on Monday at his funeral, and an honor guard performed a military salute and flag folding ceremony following that service. 

Pete Harvey was a fixture in Byron for many years, living just half a block off of Main Street. I have memories of Pete and Edna caring for Marie and Cameron when they were just wee little ones, making their way carefully from Grandpa’s across the main highway to Cozzens Store for a treat. 

Later upon returning to Byron, Pete and Bob Doerr were assigned together to minister or home teach at our home. They were a faithful pair, and we looked forward to their monthly visits well into their late 90s. It was a pleasure to have them faithfully inquire as to our well-being and offer any assistance if needed. 

Pete shared a wonderful garden, and I particularly enjoyed his homegrown tomatoes. He made homemade sauerkraut, using Edna’s special recipe. 

One occasion that underscores how service oriented Pete chose to be was about 11 years ago. Bob Doerr put out a call for help to move his son Carl’s books into a shop in the old school building. So on a specified time a crew showed up to help. The youngest on the crew was Glen, age 68, and then there was Elden Sanders, Wally Jensen, Bob Doerr and Pete. They all eagerly began unloading book boxes weighing about 50 pounds each from the truck parked at the curb and up some steps into the building. 

After about an hour and a half of steady hauling, Pete announced that he had to leave a bit early to go to McDonald’s for his 90th birthday party with family. That’s the kind of guy Pete was. Eager to help when a call went out. 

He spent his last years as a resident at the New Horizons Care Center, and when asked if he needed anything, answered, “I have everything I need here.” 

It was good to gather to honor and say goodbye to a pillar of our community. Pete also held the distinction of being honored as a grand marshal of our Byron Days Parade twice. He deserved it.

*** 

We have a new face in the Town Hall office. Nicole Hunter, our new treasurer and clerk, joins Tomy Pluhar, our office clerk. Nicole grew up in Denver, where she worked as a civil engineer. She and Steve Bueghly, an oil field geologist, looked for a place more rural and found a home they liked in Byron. They have lived here about 3½ years. She has enjoyed getting to know people as they come into town hall. Stop by and say hello. 

February sped by pretty fast. But we did enjoy a Valentine highlight put on by our new recreation director, Jamie Hawley. On Valentine’s Day she, with her family of helpers, hosted a nice luncheon of a variety of meats, cheeses and fruit, ending with a generous supply of desserts. There was a good turnout, and it was fun to meet up at Town Hall and enjoy some Saturday company. 

If you have driven through Byron at night lately, surely you have noticed that we now have light. The street lights are in and are a great addition to our main street, which was redone by the Wyoming Highway Department a few years ago. It took some time to get the grant necessary to move forward with the lighting, but the wait is over, and the lighting adds some charm to our main street. 

The Byron Days Committee has met and begun planning for our Byron Days celebration July 10 and 11. The theme is Legacy of Liberty. We are planning to have a rootin’ tootin’ good time. Plans include a family carnival, red, white and blue liberty fun run, parade, food trucks, entertainment at the park and the evening of music and spectacular fireworks, celebrating America’s 250th birthday. We welcome any volunteers that want to participate. It is a great way to get to know each other and be a part of our community. If you can donate a couple hours, we need you. Come join us.