From the Oak Ridger 13 Oct 2005 Billy Joe "B.J." Byrd, of Claxton, Howard L. "Mac" McCracken, of Oak Ridge, Virginia Ann Neal Lee, 66, of Oak Ridge, Billy Joe "B.J." Byrd, of Claxton, passed away Oct. 11, 2005, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. He was a member of Edgemoor Baptist Church in Claxton. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict; he landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944. B.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Archie and Willie Byrd; sisters, Geneva and Beatrice; brothers, Rexford and Haggard; and son, Robert "Bobby" Rush. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Lola Byrd; daughters and sons-in-law, Vivian and Marvin Steele and Suzy and Terry Beard; grandchildren, Megan and Pete Davis, Lauren Morris, Madison Steele, and Kailen Steele; special nephew, Tim Byrd; several nieces, grandnieces, nephews, and grandnephews. B.J. had many special friends including caregivers at Oak Ridge Dialysis Center, Methodist Medical Center third west, and Dr. Gary Wells. He retired from K-25 in 1985. During retirement, he enjoyed traveling, serving as a dispatcher at Claxton Volunteer Fire Department, and was a member of Optimist Club of Claxton. He served as the food pantry coordinator, worked with young boys as a church ministry, and served as a deacon and taught Sunday school for many years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Edgemoor Baptist Church Building Fund, or the National Kidney Foundation. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at Edgemoor Baptist Church with the funeral service to follow at 7 p.m. The graveside service with military honors will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Woodhaven Cemetery in Claxton. Tim Byrd, Paul Conaway, Peter Davis, Terry Beard, Marvin Steele, Kailen Steele, Jeff Morris, and Harry Gorrell will be pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Outreach Sunday school class members, and Rocky Collins, Matt Davis, J.B. Kennedy and Harry Young. Woodhaven Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens is in charge of arrangements. Howard L. "Mac" McCracken, a longtime resident of Oak Ridge, died Oct. 10, 2005, at the LifeCare Center of Centerville, Tenn. He was born Sept. 25, 1919, in New York and raised in Venice, Fla. After graduating from the University of Florida, he worked briefly in Langley, Va., and Denver, Colo., before settling in Oak Ridge in 1947. He remained in Oak Ridge for the next 50 years with his wife Lois, who preceded him in death. Mr. McCracken worked for the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics from 1943-1946 and the Bureau of Reclamation Engineering Division from 1946-1947. In 1947 he moved to Oak Ridge, leading to a position with the Atomic Energy Commission/DOE. He began his career as a structural engineer and then went on to become Assistant Chief of Design Coordination Branch; Chief, Design Analysis Branch; Deputy Director, Engineering Division; and Director, Design Division until his retirement in January of 1980. He is survived by children, Gayle McCracken Drummond (James) of Pasco, Wash., Steve McCracken (Debbie) of Oak Ridge, and Debbie McCracken Starnes (Dan) of Nashville; grandchildren include Brian Pritchard of Brooklyn, N.Y., Brad Pritchard of Carlsbad, Calif., Brook McCracken and Andrew McCoy, son Thane of Dayton, Ohio; Sarah McCracken of Springfield, Mo.; Erin, Joey, Patrick, and Ryan Starnes, all of Nashville. Also survived by sister-in-law, Shirley Alford of Venedy, Ill. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005, at Oak Ridge Memorial Park for family and close friends. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday evening at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church at 7 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Reception to follow the service. Memorials may be made to The Alzheimer's Association, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, or the charity of your choice. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements. An on-line guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com. Virginia Ann Neal Lee, 66, of Oak Ridge, died this morning, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2005, at her home. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements, which were incomplete at press time. =========================================== SUPPORT OUR TROOPS---FLY THE FLAG "Genealogy is like playing hide and seek. They hide I seek!!! www.byrge.com/genealogy/ Searching: BYRGE/BUNCH/DAUGHERTY/DUNCAN/KENNEDY/ PATTERSON/PHILLIPS/SEIBER/TACKETT/WARD