Col. Byron Herbert Meader Jr., 96, of Rexburg, passed away Monday, October 12, 2015 at Madison Memorial Hospital. He was born in Ellsworth, Maine on Monday, May 19, 1919 to Byron Herbert Meader Sr. and the former Margaret Elizabeth Lunney.

He started his golf career in 1929, at the age of ten years, caddying in Northeast Harbor, Maine. He made two holes in one, the last one when he was 93 years old. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1937 and attended Washington State Normal School, a predecessor of the University of Maine at Machias.

He joined the Army on December 2nd 1942 and spent a year in Guadalcanal before being sent to Germany in 1944 to the "Battle of the Bulge." His 69th Division linked up with the Russians at the Elbe River on April 25, 1945. He returned to Maine in December 1945; joined the Maine National Guard, and continued his education. He was called back into service for the Korean War and served during the Vietnam War also. Byron earned his B.S. in Education from the University of Maine in 1950 and his Master of Education degree in 1952.He married the former Eleanor Ramsdell in August 1946; they had four children and later divorced. He married the former Mary Rita "Molly" Lindsay in 1969 and they retired to Sun City, Arizona, where Molly died in 1990. On Leap Year Day 1992 he married the former Prudence Pease. They traveled in their camper to such places as Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Maine and beyond. They both enjoyed Family History and spent hours searching for relatives, finding out they were 6th cousins! They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on May 15, 2000 and were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on July 27, 2001. Byron often said joining the Church was one of the best decisions he ever made. Byron taught the 16-17 year olds in Sunday school in 2010. He and Prudence were called this summer to teach the 14-15 year olds in the Mill Hollow 1st Ward. They split their time between Rexburg, Idaho and Sun City, Arizona, enjoying the best of two worlds.

After graduating from UMaine he taught school in Lexington, Massachusetts and Searsport, Maine and often times was greeted by former students who remembered him and recognized his Maine accent. Byron was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, All Three Wars, a member of the Stillwater Society and the President's Club of the University of Maine.

Byron was an avid fisherman, hunter, golfer, reader and the quintessential gentleman.

He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Prudence; three daughters, Margaret Davison (Ed) of Florida, Judith Ingram of Florida and Deborah Cloutier (Paul) of Maine, and a step-son, Seth Little of Colorado; five grandchildren: Kevin, Korie, Kyle, Jordon and Gavin; seven step-grandchildren and three great grandchildren; sisters in law Grace Meader of Maine and Meredith Ulery of New Hampshire and brother in law Jeff Pease of Colorado. He was predeceased by his parents, sisters, Emily Meader and Persis Meader Kimball, brother Everett Meader, son Byron Herbert Meader III and step-son, Jason Little Griffin.

Memorial Service October 17, 2015 Mill Hollow 1st Ward, 315 Gary Drive, Rexburg.
Visiting 12:15 – 1:00

Gifts in celebration of Byron may be made to the Colonel Byron H. Meader Scholarship Fund, payable to the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792, or

The VFW, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111 or a charity of your choice.