Byron Lester Lovelady

Byron Lester Lovelady, 75, passed away peacefully at his home in Dawsonville Georgia, on December 5, 2024. He was born on June 24, 1949, in Tulare, California. Burial will be at the Beaver Creek Baptist Church cemetery in Baker, Florida, on December 14, 2024.

Byron Lester lived in Tulare, California, until he turned 18. He joined the army like many of his classmates and was sent at 19 years to fight in the Vietnam War. Byron was Known by his middle name Lester in his younger years and was the third of three children born to Byron Lovelady and Amy Jo Vaughan Lovelady. He is survived by his two sisters, Dianne Dixon of St. Peters, Missouri, and Linda Jo DeWitt of Nampa, Idaho.

He was born and raised in Tulare, California, where he attended school and graduated from Tulare Union High School in 1967. Byron lived in Spring Valley, CA, from 1983 to 1993 before relocating to Douglasville, GA, from 1993 to 1999. 

A patriotic Army Vietnam Veteran, Byron was a skilled welder, pipe fitter, and boiler maker. He worked on the Alaskan pipeline , for Teledyne Ryan, helped build two nuclear power plants in Washington state, worked for Boeing, and taught Vietnam veterans how to build the Apache helicopters at one point. 

He was devastated when he lost his son Brian Lovelady in a fire when he was 3 years old in Washington state. 

He was also a master of dad jokes and BBQ, a Washington Huskies fan from his time living in Washington State, and an Atlanta Braves fan. 

He now leaves behind his wife, Deanna Lovelady and his children: 

Justin Hunter, Kristi Lovelady, Lazette Johnson, Lelana Holmes, Lorna Rouse, Leah McLaughlin and Bryan McLaughlin. His Grandchildren : Alex Hunter , Gabriel Hunter, Camille Hunter, Alexis Illian, Daelyn Packer, Elder Adler Johnson, Brinsley Johnson, Easton Holmes, Maddox Rouse, Iyla Rouse, Xander Jimenez, Alaina, Grace, Liam McLaughlin, Karlie, Chandler Holmes and 

Lastly Halsey Illian his first great granddaughter with a sister due April. 

He volunteered at the Atlanta VA for 17 years after his diagnosed illness that caused him to be a permanent Disabled Veteran. He served helping transport patients to PT and then in the Pain management clinic during the limited time he could be active. He also served at the Atlanta LDS temple and Birmingham LDS temple over a period of 14 years while surviving Myasthenia Gravis. He was courageous in Battle and facing his debilitating disease. 

He had great sorrow and great joy in his life and is now at peace.