Carolyn Lee Dyer

Carolyn Dyer of Crawford passed away Jan. 29 at her home.

Memorial services will be Saturday, Feb. 2 at 10:30 a.m. at the Crawford Community Building with Pastor Don Mathis officiating. Burial will follow at the Lusk Cemetery in Lusk, Wyo. at approximately 2 p.m.

Carolyn Lee Dyer was born Jan. 13, 1946 to Orville and Mary Robinson in Lusk, Wyo. Her childhood was spent at her grandparent's two room log cabin homestead, north of Lusk. Her early years were filled with activities surrounding farm and ranch life. Her father was a race horse trainer and she became an excellent rider and competed in barrel racing.

Carolyn went to grade school in Lusk and spent summers with her Aunt Erma, Uncle Tad, and cousin Linda.

After her parents' divorce, Carolyn moved to Crawford with her mother in 1959. She attended Crawford High School, graduating in 1964. She lived in Casper, Wyo. for a short time prior to moving to Rapid City, S. D. to attend National College of Business. There she met her future husband Ronnie Dyer.

Ronnie and Carolyn were married on March 19, 1970 in Chadron. Carolyn worked at Chadron State College as a secretary while Ronnie finished his teaching degree.

In 1973 they moved to a ranch nine miles southeast of Crawford. They raised two children: daughter Torie, and son Lex. Carolyn resided at the ranch until her death.

Carolyn was exceptionally fond of all animals (except snakes). She enjoyed the outdoors and working in her spacious yard and garden.

Carolyn was dedicated to her community and spent endless hours on projects improving it. She enjoyed being on the Friends of the Library board, her Bible Study group, helping with Methodist church activities and volunteering at the Dawes County Fair. She was devoted to 4-H and helping her children with their projects.

Carolyn worked for the Ponderosa Villa for 10 years before being diagnosed with cancer in 2007. She regained her health until in 2012, when she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She returned home on Dec. 24 and was provided with excellent care by Home Health and Hospice and her family until she passed away.

She is survived by: her husband Ronnie, of rural Crawford; stepdad Beeb, of Crawford; daughter Torie (Justin) Jacob and son Lex (Casey) Dyer, both of Casper, Wyo.; and five grandchildren.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and her special Aunt Erma.

A memorial has been established for the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department or the Friends of the Crawford Library. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com Chamberlain Chapel of Crawford is in charge of arrangements.

The Lusk Herald
February 6, 2013
Carolyn Dyer

Memorial services for Carolyn Dyer of Crawford, Nebraska will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Crawford Community Building with Pastor Don Mathis officiating. Burial will follow at the Lusk Cemetery in Lusk, Wyoming at approximately 2 p.m.

Carolyn Lee Dyer was born Jan. 13, 1946 to Orville and Mary Robinson in Lusk, Wyoming. Her early years were filled with activities surrounding farm and ranch life. Her father was a horse trainer for Charlie Christian's race horses and Carolyn and her Aunt Erma, who was like a second mother to her, would spend as much time as they could around the horses. They traveled to Phoenix for horse races and the two of them would sleep in the horse barn snuggled deep in the hay. She became an excellent rider and competed in barrel racing as a young girl. Her cousin Linda remembers watching Carolyn ride her horse in the Niobrara county parade. "She had a white cowgirl outfit with a beautiful white hat and boots. Even though she was young and small, she could certainly handle her horse."

Her childhood was spent in Lusk, Wyo., at her grandparent's two room log cabin homestead, in the breaks north of Lusk. She loved spending time at her Grandparent's. Carolyn fed the lambs with a bottle, got in trouble for putting Grandma's head scarf on the lambs, gathered eggs from ornery hens, fed cotton cake to the horses, watched the cows being milked and then begged to churn the milk in the separator (which she was never allowed to do). On Saturday mornings, she rode to town in the back of her Uncle Elwoods's pickup and delivered milk, cream, and eggs to the dairy. Those nights, her Grandma fired up the wood cook stove in the bunkhouse and heated water for everyone's weekly bath in a galvanized tub. Carolyn's Grandma looked at whoever was the dirtiest and they would have to go last because they had to share the water!

Carolyn spoke fondly about her happy memories of the farm. Many of her memories included listening to the wind blow through the pine trees, the sound of the old wire gate banging shut, the smell of lilacs, and the wonderful cool evenings spent out in the yard listening to the frogs and crickets while her Grandpa sat in his chair and smoked his cigar.

Carolyn went to grade school in Lusk and spent summers with her Aunt Erma, Uncle Tad, and her cousin Linda, with whom she developed a very close sister-like relationship. Carolyn had the opportunity to visit many different towns throughout her childhood as a result of staying with her aunt and uncle.

After her parents' divorce, Carolyn moved to Crawford with her mother Mary in the summer of 1959. Mary then married Roy (Beeb) Porter. Beeb, Mary, and Carolyn resided in Crawford where she attended Crawford High School until her graduation in 1964. Carolyn lived in Casper, Wyoming for a short time prior to moving to Rapid City, South Dakota to attend the National College of Business. It was there that she met her future husband Ronnie Dyer.

Ronnie and Carolyn were married on March 19, 1970 in Chadron Nebraska. Carolyn worked at Chadron State College as a secretary while Ronnie finished his teaching degree.

In December, 1973 they moved to a ranch 9 miles Southeast of Crawford, which they later purchased. They raised two children, a daughter Torie, and a son Lex. Carolyn resided at the ranch until her death on January 29, 2013. Carolyn was exceptionally fond of all animals (except snakes!!). She enjoyed the outdoors and especially working in her spacious yard and garden.

Carolyn was very dedicated to her community and spent endless hours on projects improving it. She enjoyed being on the Friends of the Library board, her Bible Study group, and helping with numerous Methodist church activities. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Dawes County Fair, and always put other people before herself. She was devoted to 4-H and helping her children with their projects and encouraging them to try new things.

Carolyn worked for the Ponderosa Villa for 10 years before being diagnosed with Cancer. She loved the residents and on her days off would often be found visiting, or helping the residents in any way she could.

Carolyn was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2007. She bravely fought off this setback and regained her health. On November 29, 2012, Carolyn was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She had surgery on December 7th and it was found to be malignant. She returned home on December 24th and was provided with excellent care by Hospice, Home Health, and her family. She passed away at her home on January 29, 2013.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and her special Aunt Erma.

She is survived by her husband Ronnie, of rural Crawford; stepdad Beeb, of Crawford; daughter Torie and husband Justin Jacob, their children Jessica, Tristin, and Liam, of Casper Wyoming; son Lex and Casey Dyer and their children Braeden and Bailey, of Casper, Wyoming; and a host of family and friends.

A memorial has been established for the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department or the Friends of the Crawford Library. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

Chamberlain Chapel of Crawford is in charge of arrangements.

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