Nathan Carlos Byars II, age 80, of Electra, Texas passed away November 07, 2016.

Graveside services with Masonic Rites will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 11, 2016, in Electra Memorial Park with Landon Winstead, Pastor of the First Christian Church of Iowa Park, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Electra.

Nathan Carlos Byars II was born June 6, 1936 to the late Nathan Carlos Byars and Evelyn Fern Gray Byars in Kilgore, Texas. Carlos was raised in Electra, was a member of the First Christian Church of Electra, attended Electra schools and graduated from Electra High School in 1954. While in high school, he got a start in journalism while working part time for the Electra Star News, photographing football high-lights.

After attending journalism classes at Texas Tech University and Midwestern University, Carlos chose to enlist in the army. During his army service, he was able to continue in journalism as a member of a public relations department. After finishing his tour of duty and working as a journalist for several newspapers, he was hired by The Houston Chronicle where he worked until retirement. During his time with the Chronicle, he was the lead science reporter. In 1986 his front page headline article documenting the shuttle Challenger explosion resulted in a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism.

After retiring from the Chronicle, Carlos returned to Electra. Carlos received the outstanding ex-student award in 1992. He was a life member of the V.F.W, twice Past Master of the Electra Chapter of AF & AM, Friends of the Library, and a member of the First Christian Church of Iowa Park, Texas.


He is survived by his two daughters, Lauri MCGowan of Pearland, Texas and Deborah Leibham of Tomball, Texas, five grand-children and one great-grand-child, and his sister, Rosemary Stidham of Lubbock, Texas.

The family suggests memorials to the Electra Public Library, 401 North Waggoner, Electra, Texas 76360.