Edwin Hawley Dyer Jr.

Born November 7, 1929 in San Antonio, Texas to Edwin Hawley Dyer and Geraldine Jennings Dyer, Eddie was a lifelong resident of Houston and can best be described as ethical, honest, faithful, loyal, a gifted storyteller, and having a wonderful sense of humor. As a young boy he was given a rare glimpse into the world of major league baseball when his father became the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. While batboy for the Cardinals, he traveled with the players on trains, stayed with them in hotels and cheered them on from the dugout during games. One of the most exciting days of his life was when the Cardinals won the World Series in 1946. Many of his best stories originated on or around the ball field.

Eddie attended Lanier Junior High School, Lamar High School and The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ. From there he attended Rice University where he played baseball, and upon graduation he joined the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Connally Air Force Base Training Command Center in Waco, Texas where he trained navigators for bombing raids in the Korean War. On June 24, 1957, he married Merabeth Howland and went on to have four children and ten grandchildren. He was a partner at Langham, Langston and Dyer Insurance Agency for over 40 years.

A member of Houston Country Club, Eddie thoroughly enjoyed time spent with his card-playing buddies in the Red Room. Among other pleasures, he was an avid reader and sports fanatic, enjoyed many years at his hunting camp in Karnes City, spent weekends at his Rabbit Run farm in Brenham and had a standing Sunday night dinner date at El Patio with friends.

Eddie surrounded himself and his family with a tight circle of extraordinary Houston families like Arendale, Beamon, Heaton, McGregor, Archer, and others. Together they explored Mexico, Aspen, the Caribbean and bird hunting spots all over South Texas. He loved each one of you. He also fished in Alaska, gambled in Monte Carlo, toured the pyramids in Egypt and experienced Asia, among many other adventures.

He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Merabeth Howland Dyer; his son, Edwin Hawley Dyer, III and daughters Melissa and Holly; his son Stephen Wesley Dyer, wife Sheri and daughters Ellie and Martha Anne; his daughter Laura Dyer Mako, husband Peter and daughters Elizabeth (and fiancé Jonathan Perlman), Katherine, Anna Grace and Sarah; and his daughter, Suzie Dyer Bacon, husband Mike and sons Max and Dyer. He is also survived by his sister, Gerry Greer Johnson and husband, Clark; nephews Marc Greer (Jolyn), Dyer Greer (Mary Ellen), Sam Greer (Marcy), Jay Greer (Mary Margaret), Matt Greer (Emily) and Ulysses Asprilla (Lily); cousins Betty Shaw Hull, Carolyn Shaw Carney and Karen Berndtson Reigel, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Eddie’s friends from the Red Room and his nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Memorial Hermann Hospital and especially Dr. Aga Kuliev, Dr. Anatoli Krasco, as well as Jackie Harden of Kindle Hospice, Priscilla Brown and Sa-De Roberts for their amazing gifts of such loving care.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 8th of July at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 9th of July at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston.

In lieu of usual remembrances, contributions may be made to the Fondren Library at Rice University or Rice Athletics, 6100 Main, Houston, Texas, 77005; or to the charity of your choice.