Obituaries

Nathan Edward Byam

Photo of Nathan Edward Byam
Dr. Nathan Edward Byam, age 72, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away Friday, August 9, 2019. He was born on October 30, 1946, in Davenport, Iowa, the son of Edward Francis and Virginia Maxine (Schlichting) Byam. He was married on August 11, 1977, in West Plains, Mo. to Judith Ann Baker, who survives. Growing up in Iowa, Dr. Byam graduated from West High School in Davenport in 1964. He served his country in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, where he was stationed in Great Falls, Montana as a radar weapons specialist. He then went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Mo., and his doctorate from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1976. A year later, Dr. Byam completed an internship in Family Medicine with the Charles E. Still Hospital in Jefferson City. In 1982, Dr. Byam and his wife Judy opened the Family Care Clinic in Linn, Mo., which they operated together. He expanded in 1987 with the purchase of Dr. Klebba's Jefferson City practice, and in 1995 he merged both his Linn and Jefferson City practices with the Jefferson City Medical Group, until his retirement in 2017. Dr. Byam was a member of Capital City Christian Church and attended services at Capital West Christian Church as well. He enjoyed family road trips to national parks and ski vacations in Colorado, as well as ocean cruises with his wife and family. A generous spirit who loved spending time with his many grandchildren, Dr. Byam was also an avid reader - always eager to soak up knowledge or a good story. He loved John Wayne westerns, the music of the Beach Boys, and a vast range of comedy from Mel Brooks to The Three Stooges. Humor may well have been his defining trait; he had an incomparable bedside manner and a gift for bringing laughter and comfort to his family, patients, and colleagues. Survivors include: his loving wife, Judy of the home; his children, Cory Byam and his wife Katie of Los Angeles, Calif., Sarah Dickinson and her husband Michael of St. Louis, Mo., Doug Glick and his wife Maggie of New Bloomfield, Mo., and Amy Gansmann and her husband John of Jefferson City, Mo.; his siblings, Patti Byam and her wife Laura Taylor, A. J. Byam, and Mary "Peg" Byam; and his nine grandchildren, Dominic Nathan Byam, Natalie Day Dickinson, Lexi Winter Dickinson, Julie Rain Dickinson, Ryan Miles Dickinson, Chase Allen Glick, Evan Hunter Glick, Mariah Chantel Singer and her husband Chris, and Malena Elizabeth Gansmann. Dr. Byam was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Virginia Byam, and his brother, Steve Byam. Visitation will be held at Freeman Mortuary from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Saturday, August 17, 2019, with an additional visitation held immediately before his service from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Sunday, August 18, 2019, at Oklahoma Church of Christ. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma Church of Christ near Linn, Mo. with Ken Harland and Rick Yoder officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow at the Oklahoma Church of Christ Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Oklahoma Church of Christ and/or the Oklahoma Church of Christ Cemetery Fund. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary. www.freemanmortuary.com

Published August 16, 2019