of Little Rock, AR

December 30, 1920 - November 12, 2018

Jimmie B. Dyer was born in the community of Canaan (Searcy County) Arkansas on December 30, 1920, to W. M. ''Buddy'' Dyer and Roxie Wright Dyer. He died in Little Rock, Arkansas on November 12, 2018, leaving behind his wife of 68 years, Alice Treece Dyer, as well as countless family and friends who will miss his quick wit and gentle presence.

Jimmie was reared in Searcy County, except for a few years in the 1920's when his family went to California and Oklahoma. He graduated from Marshall High School in 1938, and went in to the Civilian Conservation Camp Program of the New Deal. He finished his service as the Chief Clerk of three CCC camps in Minnesota, and assisted in their closing in 1941. From there he went into the Naval Air Corps V-5 training program, eventually flying an F-6 Hellcat in the Pacific Theater in World War II; he served in the U. S. Navy from 1941-1946.

After his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Arkansas, and enrolled at Arkansas Tech in Russellville under the G. I. Bill. He completed his undergraduate degree in education in 3 years, and then enrolled in the Master's Degree program at the University of Arkansas, taking his bride Alice with him to married housing on the Fayetteville campus.

His career as an educator spanned 30+ years. He began in Arkansas as a teacher in Cotter, then went to Marshall as a principal. He moved his family to Oklahoma in 1954 where he served as an elementary school principal for 12 years in Bixby and Broken Arrow. In 1966, he became the director of a pioneering Federal education Tele-Writer Program that brought long-distance learning to Barry County, Missouri. At the end of the project, he was hired as the Assistant Superintendent of the North Little Rock, Arkansas, schools, where he served until his retirement in 1983.

After retiring from the North Little Rock Schools, he returned to Searcy County where he farmed and raised cattle for 20 years. In 2007, Jimmie and Alice returned to Central Arkansas and lived in Little Rock until his death.

Jimmie and Alice had two daughters, Treeca Dyer Cotton (Jeff) and Trina Dyer Walden, who both survive him. He is also survived by his granddaughters, Dr. Jordan Walden Woodruff (Dr. Daniel) and Emily Walden Short, as well as their father Chock Walden. He had four great-grandchildren, William, Isaac and Maggie Kate Woodruff, and Caroline Short who will miss their PawPaw.

Jimmie was baptized in Bear Creek in 1933 as part of the summer revival at Canaan Baptist Church in Searcy County. Throughout his long and interesting life, Jimmie was known as a Christian man of faith and principle, who demonstrated his faith in Jesus Christ in his personal and professional lives. He participated in Bible Study Fellowship for many years, was part of the Bob Millett Sunday School Class at Lakewood United Methodist Church in North Little Rock, served on the board of Young Life of Central Arkansas, was active in Ozark Conferences Ministry, helped with the establishment and building program of Searcy County Baptist Church, and finally attended Immanuel Baptist where he often taught a men's Sunday School class.

Jimmie was preceded in death by his siblings Ralph Dyer, Raye Dyer Burton, and Virginia Dyer Horton; he is survived by his sisters Nadine Dyer Maynard and Mary Jane Dyer Holder. He is also survived by nieces and nephews Jerry Maynard, Gary Maynard, Linda Burton Gibbs, Jim Horton, Cathy Horton Toney, Debbie Treece Thompson, Eddie Treece, Bradley Treece, Sara Ford, Susan Ford de la Mora, and George Joliff.

The family asks that memorials be made to Samaritan's Purse or Young Life of Central Arkansas.

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