Funeral services for Sam Dyer, 84, of Athens were May 28, 2010, at First United Methodist Church with the Revs. Faulk Landrum and Jack Matkin officiating. Burial was May 29 at Lometa City Cemetery.

Mr. Dyer died May 25 in Athens after a brief illness.

He was born Aug. 31, 1925, in Coryell County to Samuel and Byrd Winifred Trammell Dyer.

Mr. Dyer graduated from Gatesville High School, attended Tarleton State College and graduated from North Texas State University in 1951.

He worked for Texas Instruments in Dallas for 21 years, and owned Farm and Ranch Center in Athens.

Mr. Dyer served in the U.S. Navy from April 1944 to May 1946. He was stationed on the USS Missoula, making beachhead landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His ship was in Yokohama Harbor when the treaty ending the war in the Pacific was signed.

He and his wife, Frieda Jo, were active in church and civic activities. They were one of 26 couples to establish Plymouth Park United Methodist Church in Irving in 1956. He served on most church committees and was chairman of the Administrative Council at Plymouth Park United Methodist Church, Spring Valley United Methodist Church of Dallas and First United Methodist Church of Athens.

Mr. Dyer was president of the Henderson County Livestock Show and served with his wife as president of the 21 Club and the Pea Pickers Square & Round Dance Club.

He volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Labor of Love, United Methodist Men and Athens Masonic Lodge No 165.

In 2004, Mr. Dyer received the Golden Trowel Award, the highest honor a local lodge can bestow on a member for consistent and continued involvement in community, church and lodge activities.

His hobbies included gardening, ranching, travel, dancing, reading and music.

Survivors include his wife of more than 60 years of Athens; children, Melinda Wright and husband, Terry of Greenbrier, Ark., Samuel (Trey) Dyer III and wife, Holly, of Bedford, and Patrick Dyer and wife, Marnie, of Virginia Beach, Va.; grandchildren, Chip McDonald and wife, Jamie, Jess McDonald and wife, Krystle, Zachary Dyer, Hunter Dyer, Sam Dyer, Luke Dyer and Abbey Dyer; and two greatgrandchildren, Michelle Mc- Donald and Austin McDonald.

Pallbearers were Chip Mc- Donald, Jess McDonald, Zachary Dyer, Hunter Dyer, Todd Lunceford and Darryl Lunceford.

Honorary pallbearers included members of the Builders Sunday School Class, all United Methodist Men and members of Masonic Lodge No. 165.

Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, P.O. Box 5475, Tyler, TX 75701-2507; Methodist Children’s Home 1111 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708; Faulk Landrum Scholarship Fund, First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 911, Athens, TX 75751; or Henderson County Clint W. Murchison Library, 121 S. Prairieville, Athens.

Arrangements by Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home of Athens.