Frederick Darrell Dyer

Frederick Dyer passed away on December 5, 2022 at home, held in the arms of his loving wife, Deanna."

Frederick Darrell Whitson Dyer was born April 29, 1945 in Denver, CO to Raymond and Ruby Whitson in a war-weary country. Walter and Louise Dyer adopted Fred and his brother, Billy, and took them home to Worland, WY. Struggling in a small town, he left school at the age of 16 and went to work for Velte Painting of Worland. At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Navy, attending boot camp in San Diego, CA and 'A' School in Chicago, IL (the coldest winter I ever spent, he said). After 'A' school, he married Judy Estes and welcomed his daughter, Theresa Louise, who was born in 1964. Fred was assigned to the nuclear cruiser, USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9) and served as a Gunner's Mate (Missiles). During his time with the Navy, Fred served in the Gulf of Tonkin, sailed around the world with the first nuclear warship taskforce, and earned his GED. Fred and Judy were divorced in 1965. He met his lifelong love Deanna Genevieve Durham in 1966 and, after separating from the Navy, they were married on August 12, 1967. They started married life in Casper, WY, while Fred attended Casper College, earning an Associate degree. He transferred to California State College in Hayward, CA where he earned his Bachelor Degree in Psychology. Fred and Deanna's first child, Michael, was born while attending school. Wyoming, however, called them home, and they moved to Riverton for a job with Job Service (Employment Security Commission). Their second child, Matthew, arrived in the meantime. After a year and a half in Riverton, Fred accepted an offer to become manager of the Lander Job Service office. While in Lander, Fred was an active member of the Jaycees and First Baptist Church, often working with his good friends Terry Thayer and Wally West to improve the community. He also continued his service to his country in the Wyoming National Guard. Their third child, Mark, was born while in Lander. In 1979, Fred accepted a new position of Labor Relations Manager with Pathfinder Mines in Shirley Basin, requiring a move to Casper, WY. Seeking to return the kindness of his parents, Fred and Deanna adopted their only daughter, Becky, in September 1980. After commuting from Casper to Shirley Basin for several years, Fred transferred to Pacific Power & Light as Labor Relations Manager for Wyoming. This new position allowed Fred to spend more time with his family. He was active on the boards of Youth Crisis Center and Central Wyoming Rescue Mission. He also coached Little League baseball. Fred retired from Pacific Power in 2000, but he flunked retirement. In 2001, he was called to pastor Trinity Baptist Church, Douglas, WY. He enjoyed 20 years in the pastorate and retired in April, 2021. This time retirement stuck.

Fred had long wanted to find his birth family and in August 2021, after a post from ancestry.com, he was able to locate Lou Batty, his older sister. He was blessed to meet her, her daughters and spouses, but, sadly, lost her in December 2021. This loss was all the more poignant because his brother, Billy, had just passed in November 2021. Despite the short time he had to share with Lou, Fred was overjoyed to have been able to find new family members and to know more about his past.

Fred enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading, doing word search puzzles, and traveling. In his Navy career he was privileged to do an around-the-world cruise, getting to see the beauty of the world and experiencing different cultures. Cruises continued into the civilian world and he and Deanna were blessed to be able to join other family members in seeing the world, the Caribbean, England, northern Europe, the Panama Canal and Central America, Japan and Ireland. A missionary trip to Mexico in 2011 was a transformative learning experience that stayed with him for the rest of his life. His faith was extremely important to him and he loved being a pastor, working with people and sharing that faith. He faced health issues with stoicism and a realization it is simply a part of growing old. Fred was a father, a giver, a pastor, a friend, and most of all a husband who loved his wife for nearly 60 years. He probably misses her most of all.

He is survived by his wife Deanna, children Theresa Dyer, Michael (Amy), Rebecca (Brad Juhl), Matthew (Kristen) and Mark (Carey); grandchildren, Kristine (Ben Risch), Nicholas Dyer, Brandon Juhl, Kienen Dyer, Sullivan Dyer, Brooklyn (Dallas Wormley), Aidan Dyer, Lucas Dyer, Bobby Ray, and Tony, great-grandchildren, Oliver Risch, Willow Risch, and Liam Wormley, nephew, Brian (Ashley) Dyer, and nieces Shelley (Chad) Hanna and Pam (Carlos) Meza and families.

Services have been scheduled for February 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Paradise Valley Christian Church with Pastor Larry Berlin and American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains Executive Minister, Steve Van Ostran officiating. He has been cremated and the family will meet together this coming summer to complete his requests.

The family would like to thank the Sheriff's deputies, firemen, and EMT's who responded to the 911 call. Thanks also go to the friends, neighbors and church families for all the love and comforts expressed. Please donate to the Youth Crisis Center or Central Wyoming Rescue Mission in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements are under the direction of Newcomer Casper. To leave the family a special message, please select the "Share Memories" option.