A Joyous Celebration of Life for a little lady who was larger than life!
Sandra "Sandy" Joan Byers, age 87 of Warne, NC went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and rejoined her life's mate Jack, on April 9, 2026.
Sandy was a native of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, but lived in Clay County, NC the majority of her life. She loved the North Carolina mountains and said many times, "This is home - I never get tired of seeing these mountains."
Sandy was the wife of the late Jack Byers, and the daughter of the late Coleman and Myrtle Lily Hurst, and Max Earl and Ara Hazel Wingo. Sandy retired from Hairdressing after forty plus years of standing on her short, little "pipestems" as she called them. She graduated from Tri-County Community College and Technical Institute with a degree in Cosmetology. She worked at Adam & Eve Hairstyling in Murphy, NC, for many years before opening her own beauty shop, The Hairport in Warne, NC. She was a long time member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church where she taught Bible School and led the Women's Missionary Union. Sandy served her country as a Veteran of the United States Army, Women's Auxiliary Corp, serving as a Private 1st Class enlisting before graduating from Brown County High School in 1957.
Those of you fortunate enough to know Sandy, or had your hair cut by her, know about her tremendous sense of humor and infectious laugh. She brought joy and laughter to everyone she met by sharing a humorous story, funny nursery rhymes, or jokes. She honestly never met a stranger that did not become a friend. Her delicious chicken and dumplings were a must have at church dinners, while her kids and grandkids always begged for her spaghetti and meatballs. Sandy dearly loved her family and church family. She loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the most and wanted others to know Him through her testimony.
Sandy grew up as a foster child in rural Illinois back in the early 1940's, and was quick to tell anyone the US Army helped her grow up, but Jesus saved her life. If you ever gave her a gift or a card, she kept it, and knew exactly who gave her each memento and on what occasion. In her last days, she would go through these reminiscing and being grateful for her special friends and loved ones - she truly cherished people.
As her family and friends, know that you were prayed over by her. We could often hear Mom in her room lifting up others with tears flowing down her face. She was a devoted prayer warrior that prayed without ceasing, and you could almost see heaven open up with the Father listening when she prayed. She leaves a legacy for her family to cherish funny moments, poems, and stories. She embodied how to love others well, how to give to others and pray for them, and to share Jesus with them most of all. Mom taught each of her children, by example, that as we enter new chapters in life, we may feel that we are too busy, weak, or weary to serve the Lord, but part of running the race of the Christian life well is serving God throughout our entire lives. Mom demonstrated how to look for ways you can serve Him today, no matter what stage of life you are in - she served faithfully all the way.
Sandy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack Byers; her daughter Gayla Lee Scruggs; her son Charlie Byers; her grandson Sean Byers; her brother Marty Wingo; her parents Coleman and Myrle Hurst and Max Earl and Ara Hazel Wingo; her parents-in-law Woodrow and Irene Byers; sisters-in-law Betty Sue Hooper, Helen Scharringhausen, brothers-in-law Fred, Wayne, Monroe, Claude Dee, Roy Lee and Ben Edward Byers.
Sandy is survived by her children Lisa Doss of Montana; Becky Baker (C.N.) of Morganton, NC; Steve Byers (Phyllis) of Hayesville, NC; Karen Calhoun (Eric) of Valdese, NC; and Susie Sherlin Curtis (Mike) of Brunswick, GA; and all of her 11 beautiful and genius grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, brothers-in-law Lawrence and Thomas Byers, numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Sandy's Joyous Life will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Warne, NC with the family receiving friends at 1:00 pm, and funeral service at 3:00 pm, with burial following in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Miles, her Pastor, and Rev. Brandon Ware, her Grandson will officiate the services. Pallbearers are: Jared Price, C.J. Byers, Noah Williams, Sean Nelson, Johnny Spring, and A.C. Williams. Honorary Pallbearers: C.N. Baker, Eric Calhoun, Casey Calhoun, Tommy Lowe, and Andy Williams.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, Warne, NC.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home in Hayesville is in charge of arrangements.
You may send tributes to the family at
www.townson-rose.com
Ralph Vincent DeGenova 
