Nellie Jane Dyer

Funeral services for Nellie Jane Dyer, 76, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Portales Valley Church of Christ with Earl Dyer and Bruce Peck officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with her nephews and great nephews serving as pallbearers.  Honorary Pallbearers will be her nieces and great nieces and Wayne Mize, Jack Tarver and Lynn Wilhoit

Nellie Jane Dyer was born on Sunday, June 9th, 1946.  She was born at Miller’s Hospital and Clinic in Portales, New Mexico.

She attended school in Portales and graduated from Portales High School in 1964.  Nellie participated in both band and choir at that time,

Nellie began working on her cosmetology license in March of 1966.  She learned about a program that would pay for her schooling and took advantage of the opportunity.  She worked on her degree 6 days a week to get finished.  She said she was muleheaded but this showed her work ethic and perseverance.  Nellie took a month off during this time to mourn the death of her brother, Harry Gordon.  Then, she went back to school at Hedricks College of Beauty and graduated in December of 1966.  She received her license in January of 67 and began working as a hairdresser in March that same year.  She spent 4 years working for Anne Ledbetter and four years working for Pat Crady.  Then, she rented a booth along with  her friend, Anita. In 1975, Nellie opened her shop the Hair Affair where she worked until 2017.  In November of 2017, she went to work with Sylvia and she worked there until October 2022.

Throughout her life, Nellie has been an active member of her church and community.  She was baptized at the Christian Church in 1954 then changed membership to the University Drive Church of Christ.  The Church is now known as the Portales Valley Church of Christ and Nellie has been a faithful member since 1959.

Nellie has served the community as a charter member of the Portales Sertoma Club, a service club which was dedicated to hearing loss.  She has also been an Altrusian since 1989, an organization she has served by holding the following offices: Director, President and Vice President.  She has also been an active member and used her talent to decorate for Holiday Happenings, and  decorated chairs to brighten up the square in the downtown area.  Additionally, she participated in the community by being a charter member of the working 9 to 5 extension club.

Nellie has utilized her talents to serve the church, community and her family.  She took classes to learn cake decorating, calligraphy, oil painting, tole painting, wood working, sewing and floral arrangement.  She helped with her first shower when she was 13 and has done countless weddings, showers and other events.  Nellie used her talents to help others and make the world a brighter place.

Nellie grew up in a family that wasn’t rich in material things but was rich in love.  They spent many hours laughing and singing with each other.  Whispering Hope and In the Garden were some of their favorites.  She shared that love and loyalty with her siblings, nieces and nephews and we were enriched by her love.

Nellie passed away on March 4th, 2023,  following her personal battle with Multiple Myeloma.  She was preceded in death by her father, Harry Sturgis Dyer; her mother, Lilly Evan Chavez Dyer; her sisters: Lucy Metcalf, Lilly Moore, and Mary Irwin; and her brother, Harry Gordon Dyer,  five brother-in-laws, three nephews and one niece,

Nellie is survived by her sisters; Kathie Peck, Ida Denny, and Alice Griffth; and her brother, Earl and his wife, Gale Dyer as well as her nieces and nephews.

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