J L Byars Shares About His Parents and Where He Was Raised

J L tells us he was born in 1916 and shares his parents’ names (William Franklin Byars and Delia Kay Welch). He says that he has 2 half-brothers, 1 half-sister, and 4 sisters – he was 2nd youngest. He also talks about his childhood home in Parker County Texas. His dad farmed and raised turkeys and other animals on the side. The house was a small unpainted 2 bedroom country-style house that was later expanded by adding another bedroom. The house was heated by burning wood and they also cooked with wood – sometimes cooking potatoes and sweet potatoes in the coals of the fireplace. J L doesn’t recall if they had a fan to help cool the house, but doesn’t think so. Electricity was added sometime later, but lighting was originally provided by oil and kerosene lamps.

J L Byars 09/02/1916 – 03/23/2008
Doris Grant Byars 08/05/1922 – 10/04/2010
Married 10/25/1941

Original video recorded in Ballinger Texas in November 2006.