Byron Alfred Olson, 79 of Brownwood, Texas, went to be with the Lord on August 6th, 2018. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 am, Friday, August 10th at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. Byron was born in Indian Creek, Texas on September 20th, 1938 to the late Cecil and Inez Olson. He committed his life to the Lord at the early age of 9 years old and served his church by driving the bus, working as an usher and as a deacon.
Byron graduated from Brookesmith High School and following graduation served his country from 1958 – 1963, as a volunteer in the National Guard where he would be recognized for his marksmanship and where he lead his division as a field medic. Byron married Lois Clydene Jones in the summer of 1959, a union that was blessed for 59 years.
Byron had a long career in the auto parts business where he worked as a manager for Carlson’s Automotive for over 27 years. He then went into his own business as a co-owner of a local auto parts store and then as a co-founder of Hycolor, a hydraulics and automotive paint company. Byron applied his upbringing in farming to the Christmas tree industry where he established a tree farm that would become the annual tradition, “choose and cut”, for numerous families that visited every year. In semi-retirement and over a span of 6 years, Byron and his wife Clydene serviced Lab Corp as independent contractors.
Byron enjoyed the outdoors as an expert fisherman, traveling, dancing, and spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is also widely known that Byron was a Brownwood High School Lions and Howard Payne Basketballs #1 fan, rarely missing a game. In fact, Byron loved every sport and served as a coach for his son’s baseball and soccer teams. If picking a winning scratch off lottery tickets is a sport, Byron was considered a professional. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting arrowheads on his farm as well as venturing out on numerous hunting and fishing trips with friends and family.
Byron is survived by his beloved wife Clydene Olson, his daughter Alicia Newman and her husband David, his son Terry Olson and his wife Jacquelyn; Grandchildren Tiffany Murray Balderas (Javier), Courtney Murray, Kallie Newman Bearden (Quinton), Keaten Olson, Kensingten Olson, Karter Olson; Great grandchildren; Wesley Balderas, Chase Balderas and Jillian Balderas; Sister Ann Ramsey (Bobby); several nieces, nephews and friends.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association at 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas TX 75231 or visiting www.heart.org.
