James "Lee" Byerley

James “Lee” Byerley, 40, of New Goshen went home to the Lord on Saturday November 27, 2021 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center following a long and courageous battle from complications of Covid-19.

Lee was born June 4, 1981 in Terre Haute to James L. and Linnette Jukes Byerley.  

He was a 1999 graduate of South Vermillion High School, a member of Maryland Community Church, and loved to socialize and occasionally lift weights at Cottrell's Fitness Center in Clinton.  Lee was a dedicated and hard-working employee of International Paper and loved his coworkers.  He took the most pride in his job as “Dada” to his precious daughter Keilani, and was a real-life Super-Hero to his bonus-daughter Kaylynn.  

An expert gardener, precision hunter, and outdoor enthusiast, Lee spent most of his time outside.  He loved planting flowers around the house.  Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susans, and Perennials from his Mom’s flower beds were his favorites.  Lee was a handyman who could build or fix anything.  He was a devoted Indianapolis Colts fan who never missed a game, loved Harry Potter and the color purple.  

Lee was kind, gentle, providing, and would give you the shirt off his back.  He loved his friends, family, nieces, and nephews and had a bleeding heart for animals--especially dogs.  Lee loved Christmas.  He embodied the joy of the season and exuded the Christmas Spirit wherever he went by proudly wearing his light-up Santa hat and decorating the inside and outside of his home with “Griswold-like” lights and decorations.  He loved Frosty the Snowman, The Polar Express, and A Charlie Brown Christmas...this truly was the most wonderful time of the year for anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Lee.  He had a warm and contagious smile that will be carried on, along with his unsurpassable legacy, by his beautiful daughter, Keilani.  

He is preceded in death by grandparents, Mary and Archie Salin, Alberta and Carl Ersbo, Lawrence and Rosa Jukes, Jim Byerley, and Max Shelato, and beloved dogs, Granny, Myah, and Lilly.  

Lee is survived by his parents; his loving fiancée, Kasey Chew; his daughter, Keilani Byerley; his “almost stepdaughter”, Kaylynn Latta; brother, Doug (Amanda) Shelato of St. Bernice; aunts, Terri (Steve) Fern, Jeanne Stamper; uncles, Larry (Robin) Jukes, John Jukes; nieces, Hannah Shelato, and Emma Shelato; nephew, Wyatt Shelato, and great nephew, Landon Lee.   

Visitation for Lee will be held from 4 to 8pm, Sunday, December 5, 2021, at Frist Funeral Home in Clinton.  Services will be held on Monday, December 6, 2021 at 2pm, also at Frist Funeral Home.  Burial will follow services at Sugar Grove Cemetery in Chrisman, IL.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Lee’s name to Parke-Vermillion Humane Society to carry on his lifelong passion towards animals in need.

The family requests that face masks be worn upon entering. 

Face masks will be available at the funeral home. 

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