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Sonny was born November 23, 1931 in Madisonville, Texas (Madison County). He lived in Lubbock, Texas until the age of 20. He then moved to Progress, Texas were he resided for over 60 years.
Sonny met and married Elna Graves in 1952. He and his wife loved to travel and had the opportunity to vacation in 48 states. He loved raising Quarter Horses for a hobby and enjoyed roping and cutting cattle. He also had the opportunity to train others to rope and cut cattle. Sonny farmed for John Loveless of Farwell, Texas after he moved to Progress. He then went to work for the City of Muleshoe and then went to work for Bailey County Precinct II for 23 years. He also maintained a lawn service during his life time and invested over 30 years into that business. Sonny was a very active person in the community of Progress and the City of Muleshoe. He never met a stranger and he was well known in Bailey County. His favorite things to do were drinking coffee and visiting with others. His favorite hangout with his friends was at the Senior Center and the Dinner Bell, you could say these places were his second home. He was of Baptist faith and started serving the Lord at an early age. He and his wife attended Progress Second Baptist Church for many years where he served as a Deacon in the church. After his retirement he and his wife still did some traveling until her health started to fail. He faithfully and lovingly took care of his “sweetheart” as he called her until her death in 2009. He continued to operate his mowing service until about one year ago. His favorite phrase after a long day of work was “It’s not bad getting old, it is just inconvenient”.
Sonny leaves to mourn his daughter Joyselin (Domingo) Velasquez of Pampa, Texas; two granddaughters Amy and Latasha Velasquez of Pampa, Texas; three great-grandsons Isaiah, Jaden and Grayson Velasquez of Pampa, Texas; two brothers Ben Byrd of Clovis, NM and Tony Collins of Iowa Park, Texas; two sisters Ella V. Byrd Traylor and Mary Collins of Clovis, NM. His special nephew and niece and caregivers Arthur (Sonny) Graves and Sandra Graves of Progress, Texas; His favorite cousins Lando and Parsean Jordan of Dallas, Texas; and his best friend Frank Wuerflein of Muleshoe, Texas along with a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to list but his love for all of them never wavered.
Sonny was preceded in death by his parents Brady Byrd of Huntsville, Texas and Ara Jordan Byrd Collins of Clovis, New Mexico. His sweetheart and loving wife of 57 years Elna Graves Byrd. His brother Wilbert Byrd of Lubbock, Texas, sister Alnita Byrd Horn Murdaugh of Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri; and sister in-law and friend Willie Mae Pauley Graves of Progress, Texas.

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