Venia Louise (Burge) Byers, 93, of Bloomington, passed away on Friday, October 7, 2016, at her residence. Affectionately known as Weesie by her close family and loved ones, she was preceded in death by her husband James Dwight Byers.

She loved the Lord and was ushered into His Kingdom as she passed from this life into the next at her residence after a lingering illness. A long-time member of the old First Assembly of God Church located on Grimes Lane and then on the 46 Bypass, she followed the church’s membership to the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church where she worshipped during her later years.

She loved quilting and other needle arts such as crocheting and embroidery. A self-taught seamstress, she created princess dresses before there were such dresses for little girls for her young daughters and later for her granddaughter. A wonderful cook, she blessed her family with the wonderful feasts she prepared whose main ingredient was an extra-large helping of love. A hard worker all her life, she organized everything from family harvest and canning days to Christmas extravaganzas. One of her favorite activities was to roam through flea markets and garage sales to find small, inexpensive treasures. She also loved the outdoors and hunting nuts and berries and mushrooms in the countryside of the farm lands. Her greatest legacy is introducing her children and other family members to a walk with Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

She is survived by her three daughters, Sally (Robert) Shields of Cincinnati, Judy Byers of Bloomington, Nancy (Carl Shaw) Byers of Virginia. She also was proud of her three grandchildren, Todd (Karen) Shields of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Tiffany (Paul) Jensen of Woodinville, Washington; and Jason (Kelly) Shields of South Lebanon, Ohio. Her survivors also include her six great grandchildren, Jacob Jensen, Savvy Shields, Dane Shields, Audrey Jensen, Faith Shields, and Grant Shields.

She is also survived by her sister Patricia Burge of Bedford, Indiana, and several beloved nieces and nephews, all of whom she cherished. She was preceded in death by her brother J. O. Burge and her sister Edna Lucille Murphy.

Services will be held at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church. Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 11 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 pm.  Interment will be at Carmichael Cemetery in Greene County. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to further the missionary outreach endeavors of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship Church.