James J. Byrne, Sr.

Greenfield,MA
James J. Byrne, Sr., 78, of 194 Hope Street, died peacefully on Monday evening at home, surround by members of his loving family following a period of declining health. A native of Winchester, NH, he was born on September 28, 1938 to Cherolyn (Putnam) Byrne and William Byrne.  He was educated in Winchester Public Schools and was a graduate of Thayer H.S. in the Class of 1957. 
James worked with his parents on the family farm in Winchester, where they grew vegetables and raised cows, pigs and chickens.  He enlisted in the USMC in January of 1958 and served in the USMCR until March of 1962, with the 1^st Rifle Company, attaining the rank of PFC.  He embarked on a 50 year career as a commercial truck driver for numerous companies that included delivering milk for a dairy farm, working for the Farmer’s Exchange, Paper Services Mill, Inc., Deerfield Plastics and lastly for the Central Penn Trucking Co., hauling for Sunoco Products and retired in 2005. 
Over the years he worked part-time, owning and operating his own company known as J & M Communications, selling CB Radios, later diversifying as Custom Tee’s by J & M.  He also drove cab for several years, and in his retirement years he was a delivery driver for Cap Auto Parts in Greenfield.
James was a former member of the BPOE Lodge #1295 in Greenfield, MA.  An avid RV enthusiast and camper, he belonged to the Good Sam’s Club. He and his wife Margaret traveled extensively throughout the Provinces of Canada in particular Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and to visit their son in North Carolina, and going to several race tracks.  A huge NASCAR fan, race enthusiast and motor head, he followed the exploits of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Tony “Smoke” Stewart on the racing circuit.  He was also an avid fan of both his sons James, Jr. and John, as well as his grandson Ben Byrne, who have all raced at Monadnock Race Track in NH.  He was an affable man, quick to win you over with his humor, storytelling and jokes and made friends easily. James loved to “chew the fat” with family and friends.  He loved history and his beloved dogs.  A huge sports fan, he was a loyal follower of the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and the Patriots.
He married the former, Margaret Langley, who he first met in Winchester, NH, when she arrived on the scene from Nova Scotia to reside at the home of her Aunt.  Margaret, a lovely young woman was pursued by the boys in town, but gave her heart to James who quickly became the envy of his peers. They married on May 24, 1958 in Winchester, NH and this past year, they celebrated 59 years of marriage. He leaves in addition to his beloved and adoring wife, their two children: James J. Byrne, Jr., and his wife Patricia of Greenfield, MA and John Byrne and his wife Christal, of Iron Station, NC.  Additionally he is survived by his siblings: Thomas Byrne, of Keene, NH; Kathleen Ford and her husband Merle, of Enfield, NH and Eileen Morse of Hartford, CT. He is also remembered with great affection by his 8 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his parents, as well as by his brother William Byrne, Jr.
Funeral services will be observed on MONDAY, March 6, 2017 from the McCarthy Funeral Homes, 36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA at 11:00AM, with a Catholic Rite of Burial service to be officiated by Rev. Fr. Stanley J. Aksamit, Pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church, Turners Falls, MA.  The Byrne family will receive guests on Monday morning at the funeral home, from 9:30AM until the time of the services.
Interment will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery, Winchester, NH when the cemetery reopens in the spring and will be private.  Military honors will be observed, with members of the USMC in attendance.  It is suggested that flowers be omitted, with expressions of affection preferred in the form of a charitable donation in James’ memory to the Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01001. 

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