Maurice E. Byron 76, of Red Lake Falls, MN died on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, June 19, 2009 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls at 2:00 PM with Father Chuck Huck Officiating. Burial will be at St. Josephs Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 5 " 8 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer Service at Johnson Funeral Service in Red Lake Falls.

Maurice Eugene Byron was born December 24, 1932 son of the late Eugene Patrick and Clara Pauline (Lueck) Byron at Waseca, MN. Mori was raised and educated at Waseca. He attended college at Winona, MN for one year.

Mori entered the United States Navy on February 7, 1951 and served during the Korean War as a hospital corpsman and flight corpsman on the USS Philippine Sea. He was honorably discharged, February 2, 1955. On August 27, 1955, he was united in marriage to Patricia McLoone at Waseca, MN. Following their marriage the couple lived at Waterville, MN. While at Waterville, they were members of Sacred Heart Church.

Mori attended Mankato State College for 1 year, then transferred to the University of Minnesota receiving an Associates Degree in Mortuary Science in 1957. Following the U of M, he was employed in Waterville as a mortician from 1957-1961 and began employment as a mortician at Worthington, MN from 1961-1964. He moved to Moorhead, MN and worked there as a mortician from 1964-1979. While in Moorhead he served on the Board of Parks and Recreation. In 1979, he became manager/owner of Petterson Funeral Home in Red Lake Falls, MN, until he retired on July 1, 1995.

Mori was a member of St. Josephs Church, Red Lake Falls, a member of the Knights of Columbus (3rd Degree Secretary and 4th Degree Faithful Navigator), the Lions and the American Legion of Red Lake Falls. Mori served on the boards of H.R.A (Hud) and C.R.L.F. He also was a member of Minnesota Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, nature, wildlife, horse racing, football, the Minnesota Twins, and was an avid sports fan. He especially liked spending time with family and his dog, Muffie.

He is survived by his wife Patricia Byron, Red Lake Falls, MN; children: Maury Byron, Detroit Lakes, MN, Marcy (Steven) Schroder, Escondido, CA, Kevin (Maria) Byron, Port au Prince, Haiti, Michael (Cindy) Byron, Grand Forks, ND, Daniel Byron, Winger, MN, Carrie (Richard) Roy, Reno, NV, Mary (Patrick) ByronMcGhee, Denver, CO and Sliema, Malta, Katherine (Robert) Huot, Thief River Falls, MN; 11 grandchildren: Jena, Craig, Sara, Adam, Paulina, McKenzie, Joshua, Samantha, Keaton, Audrey and Alexis and a brother, Roger (Carolyn) Byron, Rice Lake, WI. Brother-in-law, Brian (Gloria) McLoone of Red Wing, MN.

Mori was preceded in death by parents Eugene and Clara Byron, his uncle, Father Earl Byron, and his aunts, Hazel Kefauver and Lillian Renault.

ORGANIST:
CASKETBEARERS: Maury Byron, Kevin Byron, Michael Byron, Daniel Byron, Steven Schroder, Richard Roy, Patrick McGhee and Robert Huot
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: All of Moris fishing buddies and friends.
MILITARY HONORS: Red Lake Falls American Legion