Byron N. Dean

Byron Nathaniel Dean (aka Missuh Dean and Dad) was born on May 19th, 1926, in the community of Balcarres in Portland Jamaica, WI; he was the fourth child for parents, Rachel and Joseph Dean. Byron proved to be an ambitious, talented student, who entered trade school at age 15 and excelled in the shoemaking craft. Byron was known for his mastery in a variety of skills including art (an accomplished sketcher), plumbing, carpentry, and shoemaking. As an adolescent, he met his teenage sweetheart, Inez O’Sullivan; together, they had their first son, Livingston Mandel in 1946 and daughter, Yvonne Mariett in 1950. Throughout his life, Byron would continue to have beautiful children between Jamaica and the United States- many of whom gave him a multitude of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In 1954, Byron migrated to the U.S. on a farm workers’ ticket and became a permanent resident in 1957; he was a Bronx local for many years. He later obtained employment at the then-upscale Gimbel’s department store. During this time, he married his previous wife (now deceased), Phyllis, and their daughter, Terry Ann (now deceased) was born in 1963. Due to his expertise in shoemaking, he quickly became a supervisor and remained at Gimbel’s before changing careers to work at Phelps Dodge Oil Refinery for 17 years. During this time, Byron became father to Troy Dean in 1978 and later Theodore Byron in 1992. After an early retirement, Byron opened his own shoemaking/shoe repair business; he eventually sold the business and moved to Deltona, Florida. Byron married his wife, Inez Elaine, whom he spent over 30 years with until her death in June 2025.

Byron was the people’s “Dad”, a doting uncle, a kind-hearted soul, and a master storyteller: he carried the Dean name with immense pride and deeply loved his family. In his transition, Byron joins his wife, Inez Elaine; son, Livingston (“Livie”); daughter Terry Ann; brothers Jimmy, Gerald, Victor, Ricky, Sydney; sisters, Jane, and Thelma; son-in-law, Carlton Tucker; great grandson, Karl St. Christopher II (KC), and a host of loved ones that predeceased him.

Sadly, he leaves behind many family and friends including daughters, Yvonne, Elaine, and Buttons; sons, Troy Anthony, and Theodore Byron; stepdaughters, Nadine Kelly, Collete Kelly, Deborah Simmons, and Denise Williams; grandchildren, Karl (Chris), Stacey, Rosie, Brian, Daniel, Christene (“Angie”), Candice, Brandon, Nicole, Kevin, Christian; great grandchildren, Rashawn, Lorenzo, Tatiana, Analyysia, Moses, Delavon, Kajsia, Quinton, Renaldo, “Sparkle,” and Hanon; great-great grandchildren, Arthur Jerome, and Leon, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins (across the globe!) who loved him dearly.

May we never forget Byron’s stories and the lessons he taught us about life, love, and spirituality; may he forever rest in peace with the ancestors.

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