Obit of Byrom, Dorothy Bess Mullens - Bryan County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Sandi Carter 2 Dec 2004 Return to Bryan County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/bryan/bryan.htm ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Los Angeles Times - 2 December 2004 Byrom, Dorothy Bess Mullens January 24, 1925-November 2, 2004. Memorial service will be December 4, 10 AM at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, 7304 Jordan Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303. Born in Durant, Oklahoma. Graduated Durant High School in 1942. In 1944 she married Jack Byrom. From 1944-47 attended Columbia Teachers College, N.Y, where Jack was finishing his Ph.D. In 1947 they moved to Stillwater, OK where Jack taught at Oklahoma State University. Daughters Rebecca and Jennifer were born there. Bess graduated with a B.A. in English and a teacher's certificate from OSU in 1954. While their daughters were very young, Jack and Bess began traveling with them, primarily by car, and camping. This became a lifelong shared passion. It was during this period Bess began collecting folk art, which she would continue to do throughout her life and around the world. In 1957 the family moved to Tehran, Iran, where Bess taught 5th grade at the Tehran American School while Jack was Superintendent there. During these 3 years the family traveled throughout Europe, Middle East, India and Asia. In 1960 they moved to Northridge, CA where Jack taught at Cal Sate Northridge. Bess taught 7th and 8th grade English and History at Sequoia Junior High in Reseda. 1966-68 Bess and Jack lived in Lagos, Nigeria, working with a USAID/UCLA program. While there, they traveled by car throughout West Africa. From 1977 to 1980 Bess taught English and Journalism at John F. Kennedy High School. She and Jack continued traveling, driving and camping to central and southern Mexico. For more than 20 years, Bess was a very active member of Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church in Canoga Park where she developed close friends and found a community. Bess was a breast cancer survivor of 40 years. She lived a full and vibrant life as wife, mother, grandmother, traveler, teacher and mentor. She is survived by 2 daughters: Rebecca Roberts Gbasha and Jennifer Brooke Byrom, 3 grandsons: Joshua, Matthew and Jason Cunningham and 2 great- granddaughters. Contributions may be made to Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church Memorial Fund, at the above address and/or CSUN Foundation (please note Jack and Bess Byrom Fund), Planned Giving, CSUN Foundation, CSU Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Bryan County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/bryan/bryan