Mr. John Neil Byrnes

John Neil Byrnes, age 75, died peacefully on June 4, 2016, at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca, SC. John was born the youngest of four children on April 7, 1941, in Evanston, IL, to Charles and Harriet (Pinkerton) Byrnes. He was an accomplished Boy Scout and Eagle Scout and loved working on cars. John continued to love cars throughout his life, later owning several sports cars—he last owned and loved a Corvette. After meeting Loretta (Laurie) Hart on a blind date and seeing each other for nearly two years, the two married on February 27, 1960, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview, IL. While one of John’s early aspirations was to be “the best auto mechanic there ever was,” he quickly learned that he was an excellent salesman. His success soon translated into starting his own hardwood flooring business, Floors, Inc. Thirty-six years after starting that business, John was inducted into the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association Hall of Fame—an honor he was incredibly proud to receive. John and Laurie enjoyed traveling, mostly to Ireland to pursue another love: golf. He and Laurie visited Ireland seven times, often with friends, and played courses across the country. In 1998, John fulfilled another lifelong goal and earned his pilot’s license, flying a Cessna 182. Later he became involved with Habitat for Humanity in Oconee County, South Carolina, as a volunteer building homes. He was proudest, though, of the family he had with Laurie. His four children—Dave (Cris) Byrnes of Woodstock, IL; Carol (Dale) Ames of Groton, MA; Megan (Mike) Scully of Wilmette, IL; and Katy (Otto) Kaiser of Madison, WI—and eight grandchildren—Nicole (Corey) Lefebvre, Kyle Ames, Sam Byrnes, Luc Byrnes, Max Scully, Jack Scully, Wyatt Kaiser, and Quinn Kaiser—were all and each special to him. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Laurie; his children and grandchildren; his sister Joanne (Larry) Morand; his brother Don Byrnes; and countless other family, friends, colleagues, and admirers. He is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Harriet Byrnes, his brother Charles Byrnes, and his lifelong friend Chuck Christensen. Our thanks to the doctors and nurses at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, SC and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA; and to the doctors, nurses, and caretakers at Cottingham Hospice House in Seneca, SC. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Oconee County Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 685, Seneca, SC 29679 or to Adult and Child Therapy Services, 708 Washington St. Woodstock, IL 60098.

Mr. John Neil Byrnes

April 7, 1941 - June 4, 2016