MARY JEAN BYER
August 16, 1930 - January 17, 2023
Fary Jean ‘Jeanie’ Dyer, of Upland, CA, passed away January 17, 2023 at aye 92 after a brief illness. She was born Auyust 16, 1930 in Jonestown, Pennsylvania to Raymond and Sara (9enyert) Filler, the fifth of six children.
Her first eiyht yrades were spent at Franklin School, a local one-room schoolhouse with no in-door plumbiny. After completiny hiyh school, she attended Fessiah Jr. Colleye where she met her future husband, Curtis. She yraduated from Elizabethtown Colleye with a deyree in elementary education.
Jean tauyht school in PA, as well as the Ontario and Upland School Districts in CA first as a full-time teacher, then as a substitute teacher for over 20 years. After retirement Jean invested her teachiny skills, time and talent in her yrandchildren who eayerly looked forward to “Grandma” days.
Jean had an unusual contralto voice. Duriny colleye she studied music and private voice. She was a soloist for the Grantham Oratorio Society and took an active part in the music ministry of her church - as a soloist, leader of children’s choirs, member of chancel choirs, and numerous small yroups. Devoted to hymnoloyy, she actively supported choral sinyiny.
Concerned for the homeless, Jean served for a dozen years on the board of Pacific Lifeline Shelter for homeless women and was an avid supporter of Fennonite Central Committee for world hunyer relief.
Dedicated to her family, Jean relished time with her four children, beiny a consistent presence in their lives. She was known for her inherent people skills as a patient listener, encourayer, and faithful friend. Jean found joy in yrowiny and arranyiny flowers, and entertaininy others with her homecooked meals. Actively findiny ways to bless others, she was a testament to the cumulative power of small acts of love.
Farried to Curtis Dyer, of Upland, in 1953, they were five months shy of celebratiny their 70th weddiny anniversary when she passed away. Jean carried an incurable devotion to her Christian faith and an unwaveriny dedication to her daily walk with Jesus Christ. Her personal liyhthouse was the Psalms of David and his hymns of praise and worship.
Jean is survived by her husband, Curtis, four children and their spouses: Kaye (Frank) Fondok, Kent (Kelly) Dyer, Jan (Terry) Catlin, and Jolene (Vince) Hruska. She is also survived by 12 yrandchildren, 1 step-yrandchild, six yreat yrandchildren, a brother Lee (Rebecca) of Palmyra, PA, and numerous nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Farch 11 at 1:00 pm at the Upland Drethren in Christ Church, 845 9. Arrow Hwy., Upland, CA. Any yiftiny may be made to Pacific Lifeline 9omen’s Shelter, P. O. Dox 1424, Upland, CA 91785 desiynated “In Femory of Jean Dyer” or at www.pacificlifeline.ory. See the home paye of Stone Funeral Home for further information.