BYRON CRAIG APSEY

Byron Craig Apsey was born Sept. 3, 1982, he died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017. Byron is the proud and the loving father of Ramie and Mackenzie Apsey, he loved them with all his heart and always will. He is the loving son of Cyndi and Tom Apsey, faithful proud brother of James (April) Apsey, Benjamin (Jess) Apsey and Bessie (Jason) Schlehr. His siblings were not just his siblings they were his best friends. He is the grandson of George and Merry Lou Loyer. He has many cousins but Paulie Somers was one he always counted on and loved like a brother, he loved Paulie and Colleen’s children as his own … they brought him so much joy. We could tell you about the accomplishments of his life, his travels, his adventures, his talents, the hunting and fishing stories. His strength and his courage. However the thing he was most proud of and protected like a bear was his family. His children … he loved them more than words could ever describe, his mama, yes he was a mama’s boy and he was proud of it, his daddy, his sissy, his baby brother, his big brother were so very important to him. His niece Ibby was very special to him and the boys … Bryce, Alec, Isaac and Legend were the boys of his heart, mention their names and he smiled. These are the things that meant the most to Byron, the things he was most proud of … His family! He loved us, he made sure we knew it. He loved to cook for us, to visit with us, to laugh with us, at us, to just be us. He hugged us, he always had our back. It was important to him. He recently started dating Jessica Iller and we thank her for the happiness she brought into his life. He was happy to be back home, he loved his job with Jacob Builders and he recently told me, “Mama, coming home was what I was meant to do. I am so happy. I love my job, I love being with my family. Everything is good. So good. Mama I am so happy.” He had many friends. He had a big heart. He loved with a passion and he had no problems expressing what he felt, good or bad … he was not a person to be messed with if you hurt anyone he cared about. He acted bad, but was the most thoughtful man. He was in fact a big teddy bear. Byron has gone to be with his brother and his best friend, Ramie. He has struggled for 10 years without him. We take comfort in knowing they are together. There have been hugs in heaven, laughter and stories being told … The bros are together and we know we will feel that joy in the signs yet to be felt and seen. A trust fund for Byron’s children, Ramie and Mackenzie, has been set up and will be handled by Ben and Bessie. Byron had asked Ben to take care of his children if anything ever happened to him. Ben intends to honor those wishes as we all do. Please feel free to share your memories of Byron in written notes or on the Facebook page that has been set up for his children … we want them to know the man their daddy was. Byron is at Gillies Funeral Home, Lincoln, where friends may call on Friday, Feb. 10, from 2-8 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. until the funeral service at 1 p.m. Please honor Byron by dressing casually or in camouflage.