Byrd William Golay

Byrd William Golay, 86, of Kimberly, Idaho, died suddenly on October 17, 2026, while elk hunting on Monument Peak in Idaho’s South Hills. A master craftsman, entrepreneur, adventurer, and inventor, Byrd brought boundless curiosity, endless determination, a strong work ethic and an independent spirit to his work and his life. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He leaves behind a legacy of craftsmanship, countless stories, his neverending desire for adventures in the outdoors and a family who will remember his humor, generosity, and zest for life.

Born in Twin Falls to Willis and Venus Golay, Byrd was their first child. The family later moved to Oregon, where he developed a lifelong love of horses and the outdoors. He began riding at ten and was breaking horses, riding bulls, and competing in Junior Rodeo by thirteen. He and his father owned Blondie, a Palomino Quarter Horse remembered as the fastest horse in Central Oregon.

After returning to Idaho, Byrd graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1958. An accomplished athlete, he set a school pole-vaulting record of 11 feet, 11 inches that stood for about five years.

Byrd learned masonry from his father and worked alongside him for twenty years at Golay Masonry. They earned a reputation for exceptional brickwork, stonework, and fireplaces throughout the Magic Valley. Byrd built more than 150 fireplaces in the greater Twin Falls area.

In 1976, he formed Golay Group LLC and expanded his work throughout Sun Valley, the Wood River Valley, Jackson Hole, Northern California, and other communities across the West. He worked with respected contractors, architects, and fellow craftsmen, including lifelong friend Dennis Kavanagh. He completed projects for prominent clients such as Clint Eastwood, Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, George Lucas, Peter Cetera, members of the Wrigley and Heinz families, and casino developer Steve Wynn.

His masonry career spanned nearly fifty years. He was proud to see his son Jarrod continue the family tradition by establishing Golay Granite & Marble in 1997, becoming a fourth-generation mason.

Never content to pursue just one venture, Byrd purchased a zeolite mine near Burns, Oregon, around 1980. In 1991, he began a gold recovery business with his friend Don Campbell, exploring Nevada`s old mining country in a partnership that lasted nearly two decades. In 2023, he launched a successful recycled irrigation-pipe business, selling thousands of pieces across the Intermountain West. At the time of his death, he was developing aluminum-pipe fencing and inventions involving waterway cleanup, gardening, and wildfire mitigation. Retirement was never quite in his vocabulary.

In 1961, Byrd met Judith Ann White, known as Judee. He proposed at Michel´s Christiania Restaurant in Ketchum, and they married on December 29, 1963, at Twin Falls United Methodist Church. Together, they raised four children: Geoffroi Andre, Nicole Rachelle, Jennifer Raquel, and Jarrod Michael.

They built their first family home near Hansen in 1972, then established their dream home and organic farm near the Snake River Canyon in Kimberly. Judee designed the house, and Byrd built it himself. It remained their family home for forty-eight years. Their marriage was filled with hard work, shared adventures, and enduring love.

Byrd and Judee traveled extensively, enjoying the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Brazil and the Amazon River, and visiting Europe often. They treasured time with their children and grandchildren, including visits to see some of them in London, Oslo, and New York City. Their South Hills cabin and home in Sun Valley became a gathering place for family and friends.

An adventurer and storyteller, Byrd explored old mines, searched for gold, and wrote several movie scripts inspired by his interests. He wrote Bailout, about the D. B. Cooper hijacking; Inca Gold, inspired by a reported discovery in Peru; and Unwanted, involving mysterious animal deaths and UFO sightings in southern Idaho.

Byrd also cared deeply about his community. In 1966, he and friend Marvin Taylor designed and built a Vietnam Memorial for the Twin Falls High School Class of 1958, believed to be the first Vietnam Memorial in the United States. It remains in Twin Falls City Park, where Byrd continued to maintain it and place flowers in remembrance of those who served. He organized his class reunions from the tenth through the fiftieth anniversary and was active with the College of Southern Idaho, Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife, and local community affairs. He was never one to sit quietly when he believed something could be improved.

At 86, Byrd still had projects underway and new ideas to discuss. On weekday mornings, he met friends for coffee to discuss the important matters of the day, talk through the news and how to make the world a better place. Above all, he loved his family. His final adventure was on Monument Peak, a mountain he loved, doing what he loved: hunting and looking at a beautiful sunset.

Byrd was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Venus Golay; his sister, Monica Golay; his brother, Rex Golay; and his beloved grandson, Andre’ Pierre Golay.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Judith Ann Golay; son Geoffroi Golay; daughter Nicole Golay Keck (Dennis Keck); daughter Jennifer Golay Bengston (Marius Bengston); and son Jarrod Golay (Emilee Golay). He also leaves grandchildren Jacqueline Golay (Manny Golay), Marco Golay, Julian Gluck, Noah Gluck, Jasper Gluck, Maeve Keck, Charlotte Keck, Severin Bengston, Nikolai Bengston, Ellie DeBartolo (Jordan DeBartolo), and Sofia Golay; and great-grandson Theo DeBartolo. He is also survived by sisters Sandy Golay and Blenda Golay Davis; sister-in-law Sandee Golay, wife of his late brother Rex; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Byrd lived life his own way, working with his hands, following his curiosity, and loving his family fiercely. He embraced the sentiment of “I Did It My Way.” His ride has ended, but his humor, generosity, fierce independence, stories, songs, and love will live on through generations.

Services

A wake will be held Friday, October 30, from 5–7 p.m. at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Avenue, Twin Falls, Idaho.

Byrd’s Final Rodeo will be held Saturday, October 31, at 10 a.m. at Twin Falls Reformed Church, 1631 Grandview Drive North, Twin Falls, Idaho. A luncheon catered by Byrd’s favorite restaurant, Norm’s Cafe, will follow. Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Jae Foundation, 1881 Pole Line Road East, Twin Falls, Idaho. Email: marci@jaefoundation.com or by clicking here Jae Foundation Donation.