Frances Dyer

Funeral Services for Frances Dyer will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 2:00 PM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron, Nebraska with Pastor Aaron Sprock officiating. Burial will follow at the Crawford City Cemetery in Crawford, Nebraska.

Frances Sarah Coil Dyer was born on December 11, 1927 in rural Dawes County near Marsland, Nebraska to Robert M. and Doris(Dora) Ellen (Pexton) Coil. Frances was the last of five children. Her mom died when she was 3 years old. She and her sisters lived with their Aunt Ada Hildebrand in the Douglas, Wyoming area for a few years before returning home to live with their dad and 2 brothers. Frances attended schools in rural Dawes county and graduated in 1945 from Crawford High School. Her friend, Gene Dyer, had an older brother, LaVerne, who Frances fell in love with. They were married on August 16, 1947 in Chadron. They celebrated 50 years together. They lived and worked in various places in Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming before moving to the farm southwest of Crawford. Along the way they were blessed with three children, Michael LaVerne, Doris Elaine and Marvin Eugene. Each child was born in a different state. When the children started attending high school in Crawford Frances went to work at “The Chief” for Bill Richards. Later she worked at the Ponderosa Villa in the laundry for many years. When she retired from the Villa she volunteered at the Crawford Historical Museum and worked at the Crawford Elementary school as a foster Grandma. This was a job she enjoyed immensely. Frances used her bountiful gardens and beautiful flowers as a form of therapy. LaVerne died in April, 1998. In 2011 Frances sold her house and moved to an apartment in the Ponderosa Settlement. Later health problems made it necessary for her to move to the Ponderosa Villa Assisted Living where she enjoyed the many activities and the friendships formed with the other residents. Again her health caused her to move into the nursing home wing at the Ponderosa Villa where she resided until her death. Frances died on November 26, 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is survived by her son, Mike (Beverly) and daughter, Doris (Allen) Raum. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, LaVerne, her parents, her son, Marvin, and her four siblings, Walter Coil, Lawrence Coil, Mary Ellen Bradley and Ila Buckley. Memorials may be made to the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department or the Ponderosa Villa Auxillary for the bathroom remodeling project in care of the Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337