Obituary of John Alfred Dyer

John Alfred Dyer, Sr. of Calgary passed away at his home on Thursday, April 15, 2004 at the age of 91 years. The eldest of seven children, John was born on January 1, 1913 on a farm near Rivers, MB. He was raised in rural Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan. In 1930 he moved to Regina, SK where he completed Grade 12 and the requirements for a First Class Temporary Teacher’s Certificate. In 1938 he received a Bachelor Degree in Chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan. (He subsequently completed a B.Ed. at U. of S. in 1969.) In 1939 he married Beatrice May Harrison on her parents’ farm near Brandon, MB. John taught in a number of small schools in southern Saskatchewan. These included the communities of Frontiere, Manor, Iona, and Chaplain. During World War II he worked as an explosive inspector in ammunition factories located in Parry Sound, ON, Winnipeg, MB, Calgary, AB and Montreal, PQ. Following the war he became a school principal in Ernfold, SK. Two years later in 1949 he accepted a position teaching chemistry in the Swift Current Collegiate Institute. In Swift Current he was promoted to vice principal and eventually became the principal of O.M. Irwin Junior High. He was an active member of the United Church. For three terms he served on City Council as an alderman. In 1973 he was elected as Mayor of Swift Current and remained in that position for six years. He was also a member of the Senate of the University of Saskatchewan for six years. In 1979 John and his wife May moved to Penticton, BC. During his retirement, John continued pursuing his interests in the United Church, curling, golfing, and playing his fiddle in a local musical group, the “Tune-Agers”. The concerts with the Tune-Agers included trips throughout BC, into Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada. They also included journeys to Great Britain, Hawaii, and another highlight being two performances on a Caribbean Cruise ship. John’s wife passed away from cancer in 1997. John moved to the Edgemont Retirement Residence in Calgary in 1999. He spent his final years actively enjoying his Calgary family, playing the fiddle, and was unanimously declared the family crossword king. He had a special love of poetry which he quoted constantly. John was predeceased by his son, Keith Dyer, and is remembered by his children, Joan Madler of San Diego, CA, and John and Gerry Dyer of Calgary; his grandchildren, Christine Davies and her husband Calvin, Michele Dyer, Scott Madler and his wife Shannon, and Matora Fiorey and her husband Keith; his great-grandchildren, Stefanie Davies, Austin and Josie Baerg, Brittany, Brody, Briel and Brock Madler, Tori and Kyla Fiorey, plus all the remaining members of his extended family. Funeral Services will be held at St. Thomas United Church (100 Hawkwood Boulevard N.W.) on Monday, April 19, 2004 at 10:00 A.M. with the Rev. Deborah Lannon officiating. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com or to The Dyer Family, c/o McInnis & Holloway, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W., Calgary, AB T3G 2T3. Memorial tributes may be sent directly to the Canadian Cancer Society, 215 – 12 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 1A2. Telephone: (403) 205-3966. In living memory of John Dyer, a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Valley (Calgary, AB) by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot Chapel, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W., CALGARY, AB T2G 1A2. TELEPHONE: (403) 241-0044.