Jearald L Dyer

Jearald Leland Dyer was born in Austin, Texas on December 29, 1941 to Curtis Barlow Dyer and Geraldine Agnes Lopez Dyer.  One of Jearald’s earliest and life-long loves was the outdoors, and this love began in early childhood with scouting.  Starting with Cub Scout Den 0 (Zero) and culminated in the rank of Boy Scout Eagle.  Jearald was very active in the ‘Order of the Arrow’ including Native American “Fancy” dancing.  He ventured to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico yearly and with his fellow scouts carried logs that framed the chapel on top of “Old Baldy”. 

Jearald graduated from Roy Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1960.  After graduation, he attended Delmar Junior College, the University of Texas, and the University of Kansas.  However, he ultimately chose to pursue his second life-long love: baseball.  In his baseball career, he advanced as far as a   semi-professional left-handed relief pitcher for the Corpus Christi Aces. 

After baseball, Jearald joined the United States Army and later transferred to the United States Air Force where he received Honorable Discharges from both branches. His time in the military ultimately brought him to Houston, Texas where he met Bernadette Antrich.  They fell in love and were happily married on August 20, 1966.

Jearald’s occupation was always in sales.  He never met a stranger or a person that he could not entertain with a joke or amusing story.  While he worked for dozens of companies over the years, including in the oil and gas industry, it wasn’t until about 25 years ago that he found the true independent and successful sales job that most satisfied him: he became a Commercial Real-Estate broker. Jearald affectionately called himself a “dirt dealer”.  His father, Curtis “Dad” Dyer, instilled in him at an early age the love of country land and would often take road trips with Jearald and his older brother Curt looking for acreage.  These early lessons along with Jearald’s gift of gab, inherited from both his parents, ultimately lead to a successful, final career, and love of driving country roads, talking to “strangers”, and of course visiting the local country store.

Jearald had many hobbies.  He road motorcycles, loved piloting his own single engine airplane, fishing freshwater (never saltwater) for the largest black bass, camping, and power boating.  Jearald was a self-taught and accomplished guitarist and near scratch golfer.  Because of his love of the outdoors, Jearald passed on his knowledge of baseball; coaching both his sons, Jarrett and Brent, in little league baseball and leading Cub Scout Troop 1177 as Scout leader.

Jearald converted to Catholicism and was baptized and confirmed, prior to his marriage, in 1966 at the age of 25.  Jearald, Bernie, and family were among the founding families of St. Maximilian Catholic Church, where they became active in the “Spirit Cookers”, and where the initiators for Bible Study 13 group.  Jearald was a choir member, parish counselor, lector, Eucharistic minister, and member of the fellowship committee. Being well spoken and his enjoyment of being center stage, combined with his love of fellowship and the love of God, led him to become the master of ceremonies during the “Days of Unity” between St. Maximilian and Mt. Zion Baptist Church in New Iberia, Louisiana.  He entertained attendees with jokes, funny personal stories, and impassioned regaling of inspiring moments from his vast life’s experiences.  Jearald was ordained as an acolyte for St. Maximilian Catholic Church.

Towards the end, Jearald could no longer be active. He lost his mobility and was confined to a bed.  He so missed his “tractor” time at the Dyer Family Ranch in Snook, TX and the exploring conversations with strangers along with all things outdoors. 

Jearald passed away peacefully, in his sleep, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at approximately 8:00am with his wife Bernie by his side. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Bernadette Antrich Dyer.  Also survived by his two sons Jarrett Lane Dyer, of Houston, TX and Brent Alan Dyer and his wife Jennifer Gaskamp Dyer, of Houston, TX. Sister Doris Dean (Dee Dee) Dyer Peters and husband Donald Peters, of New Braunfels, TX. And numerous nieces and nephews and other family members. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Curtis Bennet Dyer and wife Jerry Bramlet Dyer of Corpus Christi, TX..

Vigil/Rosary to be held Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Cypress-Fairbanks Funeral Home at 9926 Jones Road, Houston, TX 77040 from 4pm to 8pm with the Rosary Service beginning at 6:30pm and all that would like to share a personal experience will be offered that opportunity during the Rosary Service. 

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Maximilian Catholic Community at 10135 West Road, Houston, TX 77064 at 10:30am Thursday, September 22, 2022 with a reception lunch to follow. (Anyone wishing to contribute to the meal, please contact Madeline Henderson at St. Maximilian Catholic Church at 281-955-7324)

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