Rebecca Ann Byrne

Rebecca Ann Byrne passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday March 9 at 5:51am, at the age of 66, surrounded by her loved ones.  Rebecca was born in Santa Monica, California, on November 20, 1955, to Rosemary Eversole and Marvin Waley.   She lived and was raised in Santa Monica, California until around the age of ten years old.  Her family then moved to Kent, WA and there she attended middle and high school.  Here she met the love of her life, Lonnie Byrne, while hitchhiking home from work, (which was common in the 70's).  Her beautiful fiery red hair caught Lonnie's attention, and he stopped to pick her up and give her a ride home.  From that day on, they were inseparable.  They married June 28 1975.

In 1979 Rebecca and Lonnie moved overseas to the small island of Kwajalein.  There, they built a home and a life together, and in their spare time traveling amongst the islands of Micronesia. In 1980 they welcomed daughter Victoria, who lived for one day before succumbing to heart disease.  In 1981, they welcomed daughter Lisa, and as a family spent the years enjoying all the activities Kwajalein had to offer, some of her favorites were walking her dog Ginger around the island, relaxing on the beach, and enjoying the warm tropical waters.  In 2000 they moved for a brief time to Spokane, Washington, and then in 2001 they sold their house in Spokane and packed their belonging into an RV to take a road trip adventure to Huntsville, AL.

Rebecca was a great lover of the outdoors and wilderness.  Although she lived for many years in a tropical island paradise and loved the warm sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, her heart belonged in the Pacific Northwest with its vast mountains, rivers, and forests.  She was a talented artist, and through her skills with oil painting was able to capture scenes of the landscapes she loved.  One of her favorite outdoor hobbies was gardening, and she loved to plant a multitude of different flowers all around her home in the springtime and enjoy them blooming all throughout the summer, especially her rosebushes which she loved to relax on her porch and enjoy the fragrance on warm spring and summer days.  She was an avid quilter, and created many handmade gifts for friends and family.  She loved traveling, and enjoyed visiting Bali, Indonesia, Thailand, France, Pohnpei, and Guam, as well as visiting many states across the US.  Rebecca was a lover of all animals, and she had many animal friends throughout her life, who all held a special place in her heart.  She was a loving wife and a very devoted mother, and always ready to listen and give very sound advice and knowledge.

Throughout the years of her increasing health issues and illness due to diabetes, Rebecca stayed positive with her outlook on life.  She was extremely faithful to God and was a steadfast Catholic, she prayed every day through her illness, not just for peace in her battle, but for many others who she knew were going through hardships in life.  Her favorite prayer was the Rosary and it calmed her and gave her peace during her long fight.  Rebecca was a strong fighter, and she fought so hard for many years to live with her illness.

Rebecca was preceded in death by her daughter, Victoria Byrne; son-in-law, Dash Erickson of Anchorage, Alaska; mother, Rosemary Eversole of Seattle, Washington; father, Marvin Waley of Spokane, Washington; stepmother, Janis Waley, of Spokane, Washington; mother-in-law, Sylvia Byrne of Spokane, Washington; father-in-law, Walter Byrne of Spokane, Washington; brother-in-law, Don Byrne of Spokane, Washington; sister-in-law Jean Willard of Spokane, Washington.

Rebecca is survived by her husband Lonnie Byrne, of Huntsville, Alabama; her daughter Lisa Erickson, of Anchorage, Alaska; sister Valerie Waley of Spokane, Washington; brother Cole Waley of Seattle, Washington; nephew Colby Waley of Seattle, WA. She also leaves behind her cherished kitties, Tao and Pixie.

The family will receive friends on Sunday beginning at 2pm at Hazel Green Funeral Home.  A Celebration of Life will begin at 3pm with Father Joseph Lubrano officiating.  Visitation will continue after the service.  Further arrangements are being planned and will be announced in Spokane, Washington where Mrs. Byrne will be interred at Riverside Memorial Park.

Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.