Background
Cyrus was born in Flatwoods, Kentucky to Verlina Adeline Hay (1894–1980) and Eldon Lindsey Cyrus (1895–1975), son of Sarah and Joseph "Joe" (1872–1939) Cyrus, who was the son of John Cyrus.
Cyrus was born in Flatwoods, Kentucky to Verlina Adeline Hay (1894–1980) and Eldon Lindsey Cyrus (1895–1975), son of Sarah and Joseph "Joe" (1872–1939) Cyrus, who was the son of John Cyrus.
He was the father of American country music singer/actor Billy Ray Cyrus and the paternal grandfather of Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus. He was elected to 11 consecutive terms—serving a total of 21 years—until he retired from office in 1996. Cyrus served as executive secretary and treasurer of the Kentucky American Federation of Labor-Congress-Chief Information Officer from 1984 to 1986 and was employed as a rigger with Armco Steel Ashland Works.
Cyrus also served in the United States Air Force in Japan.
Cyrus was 70 years old when he died on February 28, 2006, after battling lung cancer. He is interred in the Cyrus Family Cemetery in Louisa, Kentucky.
The song "I Mission You" by Cyrus" granddaughter Miley was written for him and was featured on her 2007 album Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus. The song "Hey Daddy" by Cyrus" son Billy Ray Cyrus is also dedicated to him, on the album Wanna Be Your Joe.
Billy Ray sang this song to Cyrus, the night before his death.
She also changed her middle name from "Hope" to "Ray" in Cyrus" honor. A chapter of Miley"s autobiography Miles to Go is also dedicated to Cyrus.
He was elected a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives for Kentucky"s 98th Legislative District, which encompasses Greenup County, in 1975. He was a Kentucky colonel, served as a regional representative with Alan Greenspan of the Federal Reserve Board, is a former member of The Crownsmen Quartet, is a former Little League baseball coach, and was a member of Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse Association. He served as founding Chairman of the Board of the Billy Ray Cyrus Charities Foundation and was a devoted member of Big Woods Community Church in Wellington, Kentucky.