Phyllis Byrd

Phyllis M. Byrd, 65, of Aledo, IL, formerly of Wood River, IL. and Gulfport, MS died Thursday, May 17, 2012 in her home. Mass of the Christian Burial is 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 19, 2012 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Aledo. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport, MS. Visitation is from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at St. Catherine's Catholic Church where memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville, IL. Fippinger Funeral Home in Aledo is in charge of arrangements and online condolences can be made at www.fippingerfuneralhome.com.

She was born September 9, 1946 in Bay St. Louis, MS to Ollen and Audrey Ladner Byrd. She graduated from St. Johns High School in Gulfport, attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Jr. College and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She received her Master's Degree in Education at the University of Southern Mississippi in Long Beach and did post-graduate study at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

She married Donald Davis in November 1967. She later married James Shaidnagle Sr. May 12, 1979.

Phyllis was a homemaker and taught school in Pascagoula and Gautier, Mississippi.

She was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church and the Tuesday Rosary and Prayer Group. She loved to take pictures and put them in scrapbooks. She also enjoyed doing genealogy and was a fan of the Royal Family.

Survivors include: one daughter, Mary Davis of Aledo, IL; three sons: James (Jennifer) Davis of Alton, IL; James Edward (Kris) Shaidnagle Jr. of Columbus, OH; Robert Shaidnagle of Chesapeake, Virginia; 2 grandchildren: James Alexander Davis and Joseph Eldon Davis; a sister: Janice Hale of Gulfport, MS and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents and one brother: Ollen Keith Byrd preceded her in death.