Wayne Byard

Matthew Wayne Byard, age 84, of Cunningham, TN passed away on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. He was lovingly known as Wayne.

Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home with Bro. Gene Belt officiating. Burial will follow at Center Point Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and again on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Wayne entered this life on June 24, 1941, in Montgomery County, TN to the late Matthew Edmond Byard and Ida Bromley Byard. In the 1960’s, Matthew started work with the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFC), in Ventura, California. SSFC was operated by North American Aviation’s Rocketdyne division, which was the primary testing site for Apollo 9 and 13 rocket engines, including the Saturn V’s F-1 and J-2 engines. Rocketdyne designed and produced these engines in nearby Canoga Park for the Apollo 13 mission. Later he moved onto work in the construction field, as a General Contractor, building and engineering hotels and houses in Clarksville, TN and surrounding areas, including the building of Gatlinburg Motel. His work also consisted of many out of state properties. He was skilled and talented and took part in the job from beginning to end, including Bobcat work, electrical, concrete, and all other aspects. In his later years, he fulfilled his dream of ownership in farming and running a farm, while simultaneously working in construction.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings, Dorothy Mae Hulset, Richard Bailey “RB” Byard, Polly Byard, Douglas “Ray” Byard, George Thomas Byard “Sonny”, Jeane Byard, and Herman Byard.

Survivors include his wife, Tessie M. Byard; daughter, Sheila Haggarty (Dennis); son, Tony Wayne Byard (Bonnie); grandchildren, Donovan Preedom, Darla Haggerty, Brandon Byard, Brittany Byard, and 4 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are in the care of McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, 1209 Madison St, Clarksville, TN.

Online condolences may be made at www.NaveFuneralHomes.com