Byron W. Sauriol, age 76, of Covington, GA, formerly of Frankfort, IL, passed away on the morning of December 30, 2017 at Piedmont General Hospital in Covington, GA. He is survived by his loving daughters Mary Beth Patrick of Manhattan, Julie (Jose) Zapata of Crystal Lake, and Jennifer (Chip) Cuttle of Manhattan; his grandchildren Michelle Patrick, Mark Patrick and Michael Byron Patrick, Christopher Zapata, Amanda (Zachary) Hall and Caroline Zapata, and Jack Cuttle and Madeline Cuttle; his siblings Merrill (Jean) Sauriol, Renee Sauriol, Walter Sauriol, Marilyn (Robert) Tortoriello and Yvette (Cirilo) Fabia; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Walter and Agnes Sauriol, and his wife Karin Lacey Sauriol. Byron was a proud Navy veteran where he was a pilot. He continued flying following his military career, getting his commercial and private pilot's license to fly commercial and corporate planes. Byron also enjoyed building, flying and competing in contests with WWII scale airplanes that he built himself. He was an active member of the Suburban Aero Club and the Newton County Radio Control Flyers where he wrote and edited the N.C.R.C. newsletter. Byron also wrote and published the book "122 Trips North, Intruder and Sky Rader Stories." In addition to his passion for flight, he attended the Le Condon Bleu Culinary School, and loved to refer to himself as chef and "food critic." Byron worked for a number of years at Interlake Steel as a marketing manager starting in Illinois before transferring with the company to Georgia until the business' closing. He then shifted gears, pursuing another career as an IT director for Denon Digital until his retirement. While recently home in Illinois for Christmas, Byron spent quality time with his family sharing meals with them, making jokes and participating in many family holiday traditions such as baking cookies, playing Scattergories and going out for breakfast. His final trip home was his greatest gift to his girls. Funeral Service for Byron will be 10:00 A.M., Friday, January 5, 2018 at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, Manhattan, IL. Interment with full military honors will be at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation will be one hour before the service from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service also at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State St., Manhattan, IL 60442, 815-478-3321, www.forsythegouldfh.com