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Joyce Ann Ralston Byers, 63, died at her Los Alamos home on September 4, 2002. Born in Columbia, PA, on November 30, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Gladys Mae Winters Ralston and Willard James Ralston. She had been a Los Alamos resident since 1984. During her working career outside the home, Mrs. Byers was principally a nurse's aide and a cafeteria worker and manager. In Los Alamos, she began in October 1984 as the salad bar manager at Los Alamos High School. She moved to Los Alamos Middle School in 1985 and ultimately became lead food worker with managerial duties until ill health forced her retirement during the 1998-99 school year. While in her 20s, Mrs. Byers entered a poem in a contest sponsored by Johnny Carson of the Tonight show. It was chosen to be read during the show, and Mrs. Byers received an autographed copy of a then-current Carson book. During her cafeteria work at Albuquerque High School, she was chosen Sweetheart of the Year for Albuquerque Public Schools in recognition of her achievements and popularity. She was the first recipient of the Classic Mother Award for New Mexico, presented by the American Movie Classics network. In February 2000, eight months after suffering a stroke, her message expressing Valentine's Day sentiments for submission to the Los Alamos Monitor won a prize for most sentimental entry. Her family remembers her as a loving, gentle person with a quick, mischievous, unique sense of humor. Her wit and wisdom will be sorely missed. She is survived by her husband, Lynn of the family home; her daughter, Peggy Lewis and husband, Boyad of Albuquerque; daughter, Valerie Byers of Albuquerque; son, Matthew Byers and wife, Lori of Carlsbad; and sister, Gloria Webb Groff of Lancaster, PA. Also surviving are grandchildren, Danielle Isler and fiance, Chris Candelaria, Adam Isler, and Eric Isler, all of Albuquerque, Amanda Byers, Amber, Lindsey, David, Saren, and Loren Weyerman, all of Carlsbad, and Tifani Ryan and husband, Pat of Lakeland, CO. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Paul Douglas Steinbach. There will be no Funeral or Memorial Service. Instead, a visitation for family and friends will be held at the family home, 2460 35th St., Apartment D, Los Alamos, on Saturday, September 14, 2002 beginning at 1:00 p.m. The family requests no flowers. Those who intended to buy flowers are asked to use that money for some special thing to be given to a loved one to remind that person of how much he or she is loved. Those who would prefer to donate to a charity are asked to give to Habitat for Humanity, which generously gave its time and energy to build two large wheelchair ramps for Mrs. Byers.
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