John Byers crossed over from this life to eternal life on January 8th, 2026. He was born July 6, 1952 in Goodman, Wisconsin to Donald and Irene Cox Byers. He was raised in Kirklin and graduated from Clinton Central High School. Soon after high school John married his high school sweetheart, Joyce McMath, who gave him two loving children, Jason and Kerri. They later divorced and he married Karen Kinkead and she passed away. In 2008 he married Melanie Jenkins and she survives.
John worked for many years at Allison in Indianapolis before becoming Kirklin Town Marshall and later retiring from the Clinton County Sheriff’s office after 19 years as a deputy.
John was a simple man with simple tastes, a little rough around the edges and had a heart of gold to those he loved. Everyone who knew John knew what a huge John Wayne fan he was. He could usually recite the movie dialog right along with the Duke in any of his movies. In his younger years he was an outdoorsman and some of his fondest memories were of his yearly deer hunting trips with his dad, brother and uncles at his Grandpa Byers deer camp in the Michigan UP. Later in life he and Karen enjoyed camping with his good friends Curt and Brenda Catron and after retirement, fishing in the lakes surrounding his winter home in Tavares, Florida with good friend Glenn Ashwell.
Together, John and Melanie enjoyed traveling to new places and shared many laughs and adventures along the way.
Surviving along with his wife: Melanie, are his children, Jason (Michelle) Byers of Sheridan, Kerri Caldwell of Tavares, Florida, grandchildren Austin Byers of Noblesville, Zachary Byers of Westfield, Katy (Hunter) Chandler, Jazmine Caldwell, Madison Caldwell and Kerra Caldwell, all of Tavares, Florida, Kali Kingseed and Rosalie Kingseed both of Sheridan, and great-grandchildren, Evie and Colton Byers. Also missing him are a special nephew Brian Byers of Niagara, Wisconsin, a much loved Uncle Arlie Cox of Terhune, two step sons, Darin Wright of Michigantown and Damon Wright of Lafayette, long-time friend Dale Flater and his cat Betty, who spent most evenings on his lap getting ear rubs. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jim.
A private celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date. Archer-Weston Funeral & Cremation Center and Clinton County Crematory, 501 East Clinton Street, Frankfort are honored to assist the Byers family. Memorial donations may be made in John’s name to Jet’s Animal Services at P.O. Box 45, Kirklin, IN 46050, online at jetsanimalsvc.com or via their Facebook page. Please visit archerweston.com, where you may share a message with the family.