Lenola Dyer

Lenola Margaret Martin Dyer, age 100, died peacefully at her home in Cookeville, TN on Friday, June 2, 2017. She was born Monday March 19, 1917 in Pickett County, Tennessee to the late Lula Mae Hildreth Martin and William Clarence Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband, James Edmond Dyer. Also preceding her in death were a sister, Orella Martin Boles, and three brothers, W.D. Martin, Donald Martin, and Glenn Martin. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Jane Dyer, Louisville, Kentucky, and Linda Dyer Doran, Nashville, Tennessee. She is also survived by three sisters: Charlene Martin, Byrdstown, Tennessee; Nell Martin Upchurch, Livingston, Tennessee; and Sue Martin Williams, New Castle, Indiana. She leaves twenty-one nieces and nephews (four others deceased) from the Martin and Dyer sides of the family. Lenola Martin first moved to Cookeville to attend Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University) where she met her husband, James. They married during World War II when he served as a commissioned Army officer. Immediately after the War, they lived in Chicago where he completed his degree in optometry. They returned to Cookeville where Dr. Dyer, a Cookeville native, then practiced optometry for many years. Mrs. Dyer was an active member of the Cookeville First Presbyterian Church for close to eighty years, including serving as deacon and participating in the Women's Presbyterian Circle. She was devoted to family and her many friends. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi service organization, long-serving in Girl Scout leadership, and was involved in several other community activities over the years. She will be greatly missed and will be remembered for her inner strength and resolve, kindness, many talents, help to others, and her joyful appreciation of a very long and full life. The funeral for Mrs. Dyer will be held Tuesday, June 6 at 1:00 p.m. at Hooper- Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home with Dr. Charles McCaskey officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 11:00 until service time. Honorary pallbearers will be her nieces and nephews. Interment will follow in the Cookeville City Cemetery. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements (931) 526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.