Kylar Blane Byrd was born January 29, 2002, in El Reno, Oklahoma, to Amber Slone Byrd. He passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2025, in Lexington, Kentucky, at the age of 23, just 2 months shy of his 24th birthday. Kylar grew up in the Lookeba-Sickles area and graduated from Hinton High School in 2020, where he was active on the academic team and became a state qualifier in cross country, while also working at the Hinton Public library, surrounded by books, which he loved. He went on to attend OU for a semester, then, Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy summa cum laude. While at SWOSU, he also worked for Fed-Ex where he wrote a computer program for use with copier machines. He also worked for Hinton Public schools during this time as well. Kylar was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Kentucky, where he was working toward his master’s degree and serving as a graduate assistant, while teaching incoming freshman classes and attending his graduate classes. He greatly enjoyed his work in the lab and the opportunities it provided to learn and explore.  Kylar lived life with curiosity, creativity, and a deep love for the world around him. He enjoyed rock climbing, climbing trees, and running, and he was happiest when surrounded by nature and filled with a quiet awe. Yellowstone National Park held a special place in his heart, and he loved traveling anywhere he could to experience new landscapes. He always wanted a pet frog and loved animals and creatures of all kinds. He loved running, riding bikes, and his unicycle and driving tractors, He found joy in simple adventures.  He was gifted intellectually and artistically, never failing to see the simple beauty in the most small, unexpected places. Kylar loved computers, reading, movies, music, games, good food and family.   He loved cooking—especially cabbage soup and turnips. He loved collecting.  He loved cutting up, was witty, loved joking around and laughing. Music was a significant part of his life, and he was talented in playing piano and saxophone. He also enjoyed gaming and spent countless hours building large and intricate LEGO sets.  Kylar had his own unique style and way of looking at the world. He loved the color yellow, had a big personality, and approached everything with determination and perfectionism. He was deeply curious, endlessly creative, and lived life entirely in his own thoughtful, genuine, authentic way.

Survivors include his mother, Amber Slone Byrd of Hinton; sister Lexi Linnel Byrd of Lookeba, grandparents Gary and Linda Crain of Lookeba; great-grandmother Nelda House of Hinton; uncle Trent House and wife Ashley of Hinton and their children Haley, Cheyenne, Noah, Leyah, and Ayva; uncle, Derek Byrd and his family, of Edmond; uncle Jonathan Byrd and his family, of Okc; as well as many other aunts, uncles, cousins, loved ones, and friends.

Kylar was preceded in death by his grandfather Terry Royce Byrd, great-grandparents John Dee House, Claude and Earline Byrd, and Kermit and Lavell Crain.

Funeral services will be held at the Missionary Baptist Church in Hinton, Friday 2:00 PM, December 12, 2025, with Rev. Tom Clifton and Rev. Jimie Wray Mead officiating. Burial will follow at Sickles Cemetery in Lookeba, Oklahoma.

Services under the direction of Turner Funeral Home, Hinton, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to the family at turnerfuneralhomes@gmail.com, or you can find us on facebook.com (Turner Funeral Homes)