Byrna Scillian, 71, Nixa, MO passed away in the afternoon of Wednesday, February 26, 2020 in her home.

Byrna and her sister Valerie were young children when their parents moved them to the old farmhouse located just behind the Springfield Airport where her Father Byron worked as the head of the maintenance department.

Byrna loved the old farmhouse and living in the country. Their Father bought Byrna and Val a Welch pony they named Boots. She was dressed up in clothes, made over and given all the love that two young sisters were capable of giving a horse.

An upstairs bedroom was shared by her and her sister. As a girl, prayer was already an important part of her life. Val said that one of her most vivid memories is of her sister kneeling by her bed and praying for her and her family. She continued this early custom of regular prayer to the last days of her life.

Byrna and her family attended the Scenic Drive Church of the Nazarene. And when turned about sixteen, a family began to attend whose oldest son Mark was very quickly drawn to her. After a short period of time he asked her out to get a Coca-Cola at the little dairy freeze across the street from the church after an evening service. Though quite shy, she accepted. Mark continued to court her and after two and a half years Byrna became his wife. That legacy of love as husband and wife remained for nearly 52 years of marriage.

Byrna and Mark were blessed with three beautiful daughters, Heather, Erin, and Laura. Their home was filled with love, laughter, and the joy of the Lord. With the passing of time their family was blessed with three fine sons who became husbands for their daughters, David Hill of Republic Missouri, Steven Claspell of Evansville Indiana and Derek Kidwell of Kokomo Indiana. At the time of her homegoing, Byrna and Mark were loving fifteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She found beauty in simple things. She was not extravagant, demanding or one to complain. Her sweet and joyful spirit permeated all she did and was evident to anyone that her life touched, whether a clerk or janitor in a shopping mall or a stranger in the grocery store. She was sensitive to people's needs and she labored to encourage those around her. She was the kind of neighbor who would show up at your door with flowers just to say she thought of them that day and hoped they had a blessed day. Her smile and laughter were warm and genuine as she freely expressed the Joy of the Lord in all she would say and do.

She loved Jesus. She spoke with Him often and sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to Him throughout her work day in the home. Her life was a living testimony of what God had done in her life. She loved to read her Bible and pray. She prayed continually for her family. She wanted them all to know Jesus and to live pure and holy lives.

Family prayer was a daily part of her life and even after their daughters were married, her and Mark would sit on the sofa, drink coffee, read the Scripture and share their understanding and insights from God's Word with one another and then pray. Her favorite book of the bible was Isaiah. She studied it for most of her adult life and was thrilled with what the Lord has promised for His people.

Valerie said that Byrna was one of the bravest people that she had ever known. In all of her surgeries, treatments and recovery periods she was always "upbeat and wanting to continue on fighting" to regain her health. "I am forever thankful to have had a sister like her." She never once complained or blamed God for her illness.

Valerie said, "Byrna told me many times she did not want any crying or sadness when she was gone." She is now past all sorrow, pain, suffering and tears and enjoying the presence and the joy of the Lord in all its greatness and glory.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2020 in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.oneforisrael.org .