Connersville Indiana - Preston Byrd, 73, former Liberty resident, died early Sunday morning at his home in Shingle Springs, CA. He was a native of Kentucky, a member of the Baptist Church, the National Rifle Association, and at one time served as deputy sheriff in Union County. He was a machinist.

Survivors include his wife, Isabell, of Connersville; three sons; Clyde Byrd of Dardanelle, AR, Don Byrd of Shingle Springs, CA and George Byrd of Brownsville, IN; five daughters, Rosa Hudson of Lake Worth, FL, Betty Heckman of Ottawa, KS, Loretta Clark of Portland, OR, Georgianna Wells of Hillsboro, OR and Carolyn Sue Collins of Myrtle Creek, OR; two brothers, Lucian Jr. of Liberty, IN and James of AR; one sister, Jessie Bosert of Liberty, IN; 19 grandchildren, and many great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Preston Byrd will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Showalter-Blackwell-Myers Chapel. The Rev. Jim Singleton, pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Dale Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the Preston Byrd Memorial Fund at the funeral home.