Ervin Byers celebrates 80th birthday with family and friends

Image: Ervin Byers receives congratulations from Mayor Frank Jackson — The doctor is in. Wearing a crazy hat, Ervin “Doc” Byers welcomes Mayor Frank Jackson to Ervin’s 80th birthday bash held at the Uptown Cafe in Italy.

Ervin Byers receives congratulations from Mayor Frank Jackson — The doctor is in. Wearing a crazy hat, Ervin “Doc” Byers welcomes Mayor Frank Jackson to Ervin’s 80th birthday bash held at the Uptown Cafe in Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Greeting guests — Relatives arrive with birthday gifts for Ervin.

Greeting guests — Relatives arrive with birthday gifts for Ervin. (Barry Byers)

Image: Catching up — Ervin shares a tale with Gary Love, his wife Ann Byers, his childhood friend Marvin Socol and Marvin’s wife Maxine.

Catching up — Ervin shares a tale with Gary Love, his wife Ann Byers, his childhood friend Marvin Socol and Marvin’s wife Maxine. (Barry Byers)

Image: Remember Mexico? — Ervin Byers and his childhood friend Marvin Socol recap a road trip they once took to Mexico. It must have been some adventure because I’m 39 years old now and they still won’t give me any details.

Remember Mexico? — Ervin Byers and his childhood friend Marvin Socol recap a road trip they once took to Mexico. It must have been some adventure because I’m 39 years old now and they still won’t give me any details. (Barry Byers)

Image: What a party — The Uptown Cafe was packed with friends and family members of Ervin Byers to help him celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday.

What a party — The Uptown Cafe was packed with friends and family members of Ervin Byers to help him celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday. (Barry Byers)

Image: Creative cake — Ervin’s 80th birthday cake was a decorated as a wrapped present by Charlesa Sims of Creative Cake Decorations in Waxahachie.

Creative cake — Ervin’s 80th birthday cake was a decorated as a wrapped present by Charlesa Sims of Creative Cake Decorations in Waxahachie. (Barry Byers)

Image: Worth the drive — Relatives of Ervin traveled in from Waxahachie, Dallas, Waco and Houston to celebrate with Ervin. Left to right: Susan Swank, Sugar Glick, Jay Swank and Bob Glick.

Worth the drive — Relatives of Ervin traveled in from Waxahachie, Dallas, Waco and Houston to celebrate with Ervin. Left to right: Susan Swank, Sugar Glick, Jay Swank and Bob Glick. (Barry Byers)

Image: “Doc” and John Beal — Ervin shows off his cap of hair to nephew John Beal Meroney. On a side note, I named my FFA pig after John Beal.

“Doc” and John Beal — Ervin shows off his cap of hair to nephew John Beal Meroney. On a side note, I named my FFA pig after John Beal. (Barry Byers)

Image: Long time friends — Former Mayor of Italy John Goodman and his wife Linda enjoy seeing their old friend, Ervin.

Long time friends — Former Mayor of Italy John Goodman and his wife Linda enjoy seeing their old friend, Ervin. (Barry Byers)

Image: Howdy, neighbor! — Long time neighbor of the Byers family Verna Clem stops by to see “Doc” during his 80th birthday party.

Howdy, neighbor! — Long time neighbor of the Byers family Verna Clem stops by to see “Doc” during his 80th birthday party. (Barry Byers)

Image: What a staff — Doris Mitchell, Nancy Byers, Sandy Eubank and Katie Byers serve the guests.

What a staff — Doris Mitchell, Nancy Byers, Sandy Eubank and Katie Byers serve the guests. (Barry Byers)

Image: Friends in business — Ronnie Hyles of Ronnie Hyles Home Supply in Italy visits with Ervin during the party. Ronnie mentioned, “Doc took care of my teeth and I took care of his buildings. In fact, I purchased the washateria from Doc and it’s been the headquarters for Ronnie Hyles Home Supply ever since.”

Friends in business — Ronnie Hyles of Ronnie Hyles Home Supply in Italy visits with Ervin during the party. Ronnie mentioned, “Doc took care of my teeth and I took care of his buildings. In fact, I purchased the washateria from Doc and it’s been the headquarters for Ronnie Hyles Home Supply ever since.” (Barry Byers)

Image: Sarah has a slice — Sarah Sims would rather eat her slice of the delicious birthday cake in private. Put the fork down and nobody gets hurt.

Sarah has a slice — Sarah Sims would rather eat her slice of the delicious birthday cake in private. Put the fork down and nobody gets hurt. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cade has cake too — Cade Sims enjoys his slice of cake without embarrassment.

Cade has cake too — Cade Sims enjoys his slice of cake without embarrassment. (Barry Byers)

Image: Birthday reunites — Jane Byers, Ervin’s only daughter of seven children, and Jane’s former college roommate and lifelong friend Vonda Massengill reminisce. Vonda has visited the Byers house on many occasions since meeting Jane at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.

Birthday reunites — Jane Byers, Ervin’s only daughter of seven children, and Jane’s former college roommate and lifelong friend Vonda Massengill reminisce. Vonda has visited the Byers house on many occasions since meeting Jane at Tarleton State University in Stephenville. (Barry Byers)

Image: Tennis partners — Ervin’s and his former tennis partner Gary Love regularly played at the courts at Waxahachie High School in their younger days. They never hit the ball directly to each other preferring to make the other scramble back and forth. And if your racket got caught in the dangling fence netting, tough.

Tennis partners — Ervin’s and his former tennis partner Gary Love regularly played at the courts at Waxahachie High School in their younger days. They never hit the ball directly to each other preferring to make the other scramble back and forth. And if your racket got caught in the dangling fence netting, tough. (Barry Byers)

Image: Athletic cousins — Katie Byers offers her cousin Seth Sims a party snack. Katie is a member of the Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team and Seth plays baseball for Waxahachie High School.

Athletic cousins — Katie Byers offers her cousin Seth Sims a party snack. Katie is a member of the Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team and Seth plays baseball for Waxahachie High School. (Barry Byers)

Image: Opening cards — Sporting a party hat that makes him look 10 years younger, Ervin opens a few of his birthday cards during his 80th birthday party.

Opening cards — Sporting a party hat that makes him look 10 years younger, Ervin opens a few of his birthday cards during his 80th birthday party. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kinfolks — Pictured are Jan Meroney, Ervin’s sister-n-law, Jan’s son John Beal Meroney and daughter Martha Zoterreli.

Kinfolks — Pictured are Jan Meroney, Ervin’s sister-n-law, Jan’s son John Beal Meroney and daughter Martha Zoterreli. (Barry Byers)

Image: That’s my boy! — Ervin poses with, his third born son, Kenny Byers who drove in from Houston to celebrate his dad’s 80th birthday.

That’s my boy! — Ervin poses with, his third born son, Kenny Byers who drove in from Houston to celebrate his dad’s 80th birthday. (Barry Byers)

Image: The Byers clan — Meet a few of the relatives from the Byers side of the family: Back row: Denise Joseph, Lauren Byers, Kenny Byers, Hillary Abramson, Howard Byers, Shelley Byers. Front row: Ann Byers, Ervin “The birhday boy” Byers and Jane Byers.

The Byers clan — Meet a few of the relatives from the Byers side of the family: Back row: Denise Joseph, Lauren Byers, Kenny Byers, Hillary Abramson, Howard Byers, Shelley Byers. Front row: Ann Byers, Ervin “The birhday boy” Byers and Jane Byers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Happy family — It was a great day for Ervin as he haults his wheelchair just long enough to get a picture taken with his wife Ann Byers, his daughter Jane Byers and grandchildren Lauren Byers, John Byers and Katie Byers.

Happy family — It was a great day for Ervin as he haults his wheelchair just long enough to get a picture taken with his wife Ann Byers, his daughter Jane Byers and grandchildren Lauren Byers, John Byers and Katie Byers. (Barry Byers)

Image: Big smiles — Charlesa & Heath Sims take a picture with Ervin. Charlesa owns New Creations Cake Decorations and Heath, Ervin’s nephew, is the Ellis County Commissioner of Precinct 3. Ervin is a sit down comedian.

Big smiles — Charlesa & Heath Sims take a picture with Ervin. Charlesa owns New Creations Cake Decorations and Heath, Ervin’s nephew, is the Ellis County Commissioner of Precinct 3. Ervin is a sit down comedian. (Barry Byers)

Image: Congratulations! — Angela & Glenn Sims and their two little ones, Cade and baby Cassie, stopped by to celebrate with Ervin on his special day. Ervin’s nephew, Glenn owns a construction business and Angela is a hospital worker.

Congratulations! — Angela & Glenn Sims and their two little ones, Cade and baby Cassie, stopped by to celebrate with Ervin on his special day. Ervin’s nephew, Glenn owns a construction business and Angela is a hospital worker. (Barry Byers)

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