Dora T. Dyer

Dora T. Dyer (nee Dora Alice Turner) of Hamilton, Ohio, peacefully passed into eternal life with her Lord at age 91 on Sunday, October 28, 2018. She was born on June 4, 1927 in Charleston, West Virginia to Carl A. and Katherine E. (Thumm) Turner. She graduated from Elk Hills High School, and while working at the telephone company in Charleston, was introduced to Richard N. “Dick” Dyer by her cousin, Betty Turner Parkins. Dick and Dora married in June 1949 and celebrated 69 joyful years of marriage.

Dora’s life was grounded in her faith and family. With her whole heart she loved Dick, her children Cathy and Rich and their spouses, her three granddaughters (“the girls”) and her two great-grandchildren. Everything she did was done with love. She quit work at the telephone company in 1951 to raise her two children and devoted her life to their upbringing in the ways of the Lord.

In 1961 when Dick accepted a transfer with FMC to Green River, Wyoming, the family moved out West and enjoyed the majestic scenery of their new home through camping, boating, fishing, ice skating and water/snow skiing. Dora served the church and community of Green River as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader; Sunday School teacher, superintendent, and youth group advisor; and leader of Teen Town (an organization staging weekly dances for the local teenagers.) In 1968 the family relocated to Fairfield, Ohio upon Dick accepting a job with Mosler Safe Company. It was here that her children graduated from high school and went away to college. Dora then pursued her love of little children by working as an educational assistant at Fairfield South and Fairfield West Elementary Schools, serving in early childhood programs. She spent many happy hours preparing materials for her work at the schools. She was a faithful member of Lindenwald United Methodist Church in Hamilton, OH, and was active in Mizpah and Friendly Circles where she delighted in stitching crafts for the annual church bazaar.

Once her children married and had children of their own, she quit working at the schools to care for “the girls” while their mothers taught school. She became “Grammie” not only to Michelle, Cara and baby Katie but she opened her arms and heart to Emi and Katie Fitz as well, transporting them to and from the church’s preschool and creating wonderful activities for them in her basement play area.

Once the girls reached school age and upon Dick’s retirement from Mosler, Dora and Dick moved to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas where they spent five happy years in their lake house in the summer, traveling to their condo in Bradenton, Florida for the winter. They loved playing cards and dominoes with friends and traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and Europe. Moving back to Hamilton in 1995, they continued to winter in Bradenton and summer in Hamilton until Parkinson’s disease robbed Dora of the strength and mobility to make the annual trip to Florida. She persevered with a strong spirit as her body and mind declined, becoming a resident of Doverwood Village in Fairfield Township in January 2016.

Dora is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Dick Dyer; her daughter Cathy Milligan and husband Sam of Liberty Township, OH; and her son Rich Dyer and wife Lynne of Fairfield Township, OH. She is also survived by granddaughters Michelle Dyer LaTorre (husband Matthew) of Smithtown, Long Island, NY; Cara Milligan Lassus (husband Marco) of West Chester, OH; and Katie Milligan McCrumb (husband Kevin) of Louisville, KY. Her precious great-grandchildren are Anthony and Sophia LaTorre, of Smithtown, Long Island, NY. Dora is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Jackie Dyer of Fairfield, OH, and JoAnn Turner of Charleston, WV, as well as by two nephews and eight nieces and their families. Preceding Dora in death were her parents, brothers Jack Turner and John Turner, brother-in-law Jim Dyer, sister-in-law Peggy Turner, and father-and-mother-in-law, Otis and Ethel Dyer.

The family extends its gratitude for compassionate, loving care of Dora to the staff of Hillandale Communities, especially the memory care staff at Doverwood Village, and to the staff of Hospice of Southwest Ohio.

The celebration of Dora’s life will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Cornerstone Church, 7600 Princeton-Glendale Road, West Chester, OH. Visitation will be at 10:00 am with the 11:00 am funeral service conducted by Rev. David Hood with remembrances shared by Rev. Dr. James J. Menninger. The family extends an invitation to join them at the luncheon following the service.

Dora delighted in little children! In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Dora’s memory to Cornerstone Christian Preschool, 7600 Princeton-Glendale Road, Liberty Township, OH 45011.

Interment will be in the mausoleum at Rose Hill Burial Park, Hamilton, OH with Ivey Funeral Home serving the family.