Byron E. Gunsolley
Byron E. Gunsolley, Jr. 78, of Maryville, Missouri passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at his home.
A Celebration of Life will be held on October 5, 2024 at the Mozingo Events Center, 1 Fall Drive, Maryville, Missouri from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. A fish fry buffet in Byron’s honor included.
Byron was born on October 7, 1945 in Clearfield, Iowa to Byron E. Gunsolley, Sr. and Clella M. Bohn.
Byron grew up in Diagonal, Iowa with his brother Frank and sister Joy. He spent his childhood playing ball, fishing, riding bikes with the other “town boys.” He began his long association with the newspaper business carrying papers to Diagonal residents in all kinds of weather. He worked for Harold and Mildred Turnbull at the Diagonal Progress in Jr. high through Sr. high school. Then at the Creston News Advertiser while going to Southwest Iowa Community College (1964-1966). He worked at the Maryville Daily Forum when he transferred to NWMSU (1966-1968) under Barney Alcott in the press room. Byron was drafted upon college graduation into the Army (1968-1970). Upon completing basic training, he served the remainder of his time at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Returning to Maryville, Byron spent the next 22 years at the Maryville Daily Forum. He then worked at St. Francis Hospital until his retirement in Environmental Services.
Beyond his love of his family, his passion was fishing in, lakes, ponds, rivers in all kinds of weather. Always proud to show his latest catch to all. Followed by hunting quail and pheasant in Iowa, deer at his in-law’s farm until essential tremor ceased his ability to cast line or hit his target.
In the early days of computers at the Daily Forum, Byron was the repairman, looking for tube replacement, broken circuits, even whether it was plugged in. They would hunt him down when fishing on his days off to come fix the computers or the paper didn’t go out.
Byron had an eye for detail and perfection that showed in anything he did. Whether it was setting advertising lines perfectly straight in the composing room or going above and beyond employer’s expectations at the hospital. This was in spite of his progressing essential tremor. He adapted his way of doing things, so jobs were “done right,” His daughters all have that same ethic.
Byron didn’t know a stranger, accepted people as they were, not judging anyone. He loved trading hunting and fishing stories.
He married Charlotte M. Maudlin on January 30, 1971 in Grant City, Missouri. She survives of the home. Additional survivors include his daughters, Michelle (Jamie) Jaycox, Christina (Bryan) Dulin, Kathryn (Jason) Colwell; three grandchildren, Ethan Dulin, Audrey Colwell and Cora Colwell; brother, Frank (Joan) Gunsolley, sister, Joy (Jim) Goins and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Byron E. Gunsolley, Sr. and Clella M. Gunsolley and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Marion and Gisela Maudlin.
