Grace Marie Ainsley

Grace Marie Ainsley, 79, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away on November 7, 2022. She is survived by her husband, William (Bill) Ainsley; five children, William Dyer (married to Elizabeth Firchau), Dana Dyer Fischbach (married to Steve Fischbach), Paul Dyer (married to Michele Maurer), Elizabeth Brooks, and Debra Reul (married to Michael Reul); and nine grandchildren. She is also survived by brother Dewey Harman, Jr. She was preceded in death by her first husband Donald Dyer.

Grace was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Dewey and Pauline Harman. Having graduated from Wyandotte High School and St. Margaret's School of Nursing, she married Donald in 1964. Grace thought she was marrying an architect; however, Donald joined the United States Navy as an officer during the Vietnam War, a choice which he turned into a lifelong career. As a homemaker, Grace raised a family of four children, giving them unfaltering support and instilling in them a deep sense of love for family and God. In this regard, she was often on her own for long periods, with Donald at sea. While life as a Navy wife could be difficult, it gave Grace a unique opportunity for adventure, which she seized with zeal. She often met up with Donald on his overseas trips, traveling across East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. They moved frequently as well, residing in California, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Altogether, it was an adventure the girl from Kansas never expected.

After Donald's death in 2001, Grace committed herself to family and community service, serving as a parish nurse for her congregation at Community United Methodist Church, working with Meals on Wheels, and supporting the Appalachian Service Project. She was introduced to Bill, a widower, by a mutual friend. This meeting opened a second chance at love for both, and a whole new set of adventures. Married in 2007, they created a home together in Virginia Beach, Virginia, spending time in nature, fishing and birdwatching, gardening and raising butterflies. The pair used the freedom of retirement to travel widely across the breadth of the United States and even flying to Dubai. They also merged two families as they doted on their shared grandchildren: Clay and Chloe Dyer; Grace, Lee and Catherine Baker; William Reul; Henry and Olivia Dyer; and Grayson Brooks.

Grace wanted to be remembered as a good mother and wife. She was more than this. In trying to live her life by Christ's example, she touched many lives, offering warm friendship and support without expectation of reward. While she only practiced nursing as a profession for a short time, she was a committed caregiver throughout her life, particularly for those struggling with chronic illness. She was happiest when she was serving her community, whether her neighbors, the members of her church or, as a military wife, service members and their families. Perhaps most of all, she had an amazing ability to find joy in life even under the most difficult of circumstances. In this regard, she was a quiet but prodigious force in the lives of those who knew her. While our hearts ache with her loss, we look forward with the promise of her life in mind, seeking to follow her example in seeking love, spreading joy, and bettering the world where we can.

A memorial service will be held on November 19, 2022 at Suburban Christian Church, 5132 Bellamy Manor Dr, Virginia Beach, at 11:00 AM. This will be followed by a reception in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) or the Elizabeth River Project (https://elizabethriver.org/).