Geneva Byars-Cox

Geneva L. Byars-Cox was born on January 17, 1923, in Idabel, Oklahoma and passed away on October 22, 2026, at The Commons, Enid, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of John W. & Maggie M. (McBride) Garrett. She attended Smithville High School in Smithville, Oklahoma.

She was united in marriage to Preston Clovis Paschal on November 15, 1941. They had one child, Preston Clovis Paschal, Jr., who was born in July 1943 and, sadly, died shortly after birth. During their marriage they were stationed at several Army bases where she worked in various positions. Geneva became a young widow when Preston was killed in action off Omaha Beach on D-Day.

On December 1, 1945, she married Fay W. Riley. During their marriage, they traveled across the United States and Canada while Fay worked as an oil pipeline engineer. For a few years, Geneva bred and sold toy Chihuahua dogs. They had plans to fly to Australia and live. Geneva obtained her pilots license, but Fay’s flight physical revealed that he had cancer, so they moved back to Southeast Oklahoma. They separated in February 1959.

She married Milton Jack Byars on May 1, 1959. During their marriage, she worked for Hamlin Clothing for 25 years. She and Jack traveled to Africa, the Canary Islands and the Bahamas. They resided in the Poteau and Wister area. In addition to their full-time jobs, they also operated a successful cattle operation. Jack passed away on March 18, 2003.

On September 9, 2004, she married Charles W. Cox. They lived outside of Heavener, raised cattle, and operated a hunting pen. After his death on June 1, 2013, she lived briefly in Alva, Stigler and Wister before returning to the Heavener area. In June 2020, she moved to Enid, Oklahoma to be closer to her surviving family members.

She is survived by her niece, Kathryn S. Holt of Alva, and nephews, Danny D. Crawford of Enid, Douglas D. Lakely of Alva, and Dennis K. Lakely of Enid.

She was preceded in death by her son, her husbands, her parents and grandparents and her sisters Anna (Ann) Lee (Garrett) Crawford and Lora Gatha (Garrett) Parker.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ellis Chapel Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 602, Wister, OK 74966.

Funeral service to celebrate Geneva's life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 29, 2026 at Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home Chapel in Heavener, Oklahoma. Interment will be in Ellis Chapel Cemetery in Wister, Oklahoma under the direction and care of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home in Heavener, Oklahoma.