Longtime court reporter of the Illinois Judicial System Past Away

Longtime court employee dies at 87

MUSKEGON -- A longtime Muskegon County 60th District Court recorder and judicial secretary has died.

Mona-Eileen Byrnes died Monday at age 87.

Byrnes had a long history with local courts. She was employed as the registrar of Muskegon County Juvenile Court and later worked in several law offices and in various capacities for district court, including court reporter and judicial secretary from 1969 until her retirement in 1983.

She was a graduate of Muskegon High School and later enlisted in the USN WAVES, a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women.

She attended boot camp at Hunter's College in New York, graduated from Chicago School of Aviation Instruments and was stationed at Alameda Naval Air Station in California.

In addition to her court experience, Byrnes owned and operated a transcription service, Gal Friday, for 54 years out of her home. She was also a two-term president for Catholic War Vets Post 843 Auxiliary.

She is survived by five children and her husband of 62 years, Thomas J. Byrnes, Sr.
A funeral service took place on Friday in Oviedo, Fla., where she lived at the time of her death.