Grace Byrd

Grace Arlene (Fillman) Byrd was born on August 11, 1938, in Des Moines, Iowa, and passed away on December 25, 2025, at Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines.

Grace was born on the kitchen table in the home her father built on Rittenhouse Street and was a lifelong resident of the south side of Des Moines. She graduated from Lincoln High School, where she played the French horn in the band. Throughout her life, Grace held many jobs, including working at Blue Jays Restaurant and Katz Drug Store. Later, she worked for the Iowa State Animal Disease Laboratory, served as a manager at Clayton’s Arts and Crafts, and concluded her career as a medical supply clerk for the Iowa National Guard at Camp Dodge.

Grace loved traveling and spending time with her family. She enjoyed many camping trips with Rick and their boys to Lake Ahquabi, Springbrook State Park, and Colorado Springs, as well as family vacations to California, Las Vegas, and Nassau in the Bahamas. She also loved traveling with her sisters, including visits to their aunt in Colorado and a dream trip abroad to Ireland.

An amazingly creative person, Grace was involved in many forms of art and craftsmanship, including painting, stained glass, and a wide range of fiber arts such as knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, and quilting. She was a renowned seamstress and became the go-to person at Camp Dodge for uniform alterations and proper patch placement. During Operation Desert Storm, she was contracted by the federal government to replace thousands of patches on soldiers’ uniforms.

Grace was an active member of the Phi Tau Omega sorority in Des Moines and greatly cherished the time spent with her sisters. She was always creating items for sorority sales and fundraisers.

Grace is survived by her sons, Richard (Lana) Byrd and Cory (Linda) Byrd; her sisters, Carol (Duane) Fulton and Bonnie Boothroyd; five grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Richard E. Byrd; her parents, Ralph Fillman and Floy Cross; and her brothers, Harold, Jerry, and Jim.

Services will be held on Friday, January 9, 2025, at Sunset Memorial Chapel on Fleur Drive. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Pastor Darrian Adkins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Grace’s honor to St. Vincent de Paul in Des Moines.