Preston Byford was born June 15, 1923 in Duncan, Oklahoma, to Henry C. and Earle Fulton Byford, and passed from this life April 12, 2006, at his home in Meridian, Oklahoma at the age of eighty-two. Preston and Ozella Baggett were united in marriage August 24, 1951, in Duncan, Oklahoma. She preceded him in death December 31, 2001.

Preston was a member of First Baptist Church for fifty-five years. He was on the Falls Creek Committee and Deacon for fifty years. He was also Sunday school director, and member of the church choir. He was active in the Comanche Masonic Lodge #41 and was Worshipful Master in 1966 and1980, Treasurer for thirty-one years and District Deputy Grand Master for two years. He was McAlester Consistory. He was an executive board member of Mullins Baptist association for many years. Preston was an OSSAA referee for fifty years and was inducted into the Oklahoma Officials Hall of Fame on July 29, 2005, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Preston worked for Halliburton in Duncan in the maintenance dept. from 1940 until his retirement in 1986. Preston said he loved sports and young people and you could tell by his working with the youth in church activities and sporting events that they were a big part of his life.

Survivors include: three brothers - Junior Byford and his wife Wanda of Duncan, OK, Eddie Byford and his wife Evelyn of Duncan, OK, and Earl Dee Byford and his wife Sheeni of Duncan, OK; and two sisters - Peggy and her husband George Niehoff of Duncan, OK, and Claudine and her husband James Branch of Oklahoma City, OK.

Preston was preceded in death by his wife, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

Funeral services for Preston were at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 15, 2006, at the First Baptist Church in Comanche with Ron Ogle and Randy Southerland officiating. Burial was at 11:00 AM, Monday April 17, 2006, at Fairlawn Cemetery in Comanche under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home of Comanche. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chisholm Trail Hospice, First Baptist Church Falls Creek Fund, or your charity of choice.