James Martin "Jim" Dyer Sr.

James Martin Dyer, Sr., lovingly known as "Jim" and "Pappaw", passed away at his home in Paragon, Indiana at 11:24 pm on April 23, 2025. He was surrounded by family, including four generations of his descendants, and friends who loved him dearly. He was 90 years old.
Jim was born at home in Hartsville, Tennessee on March 11, 1935 to James Ethel and Martha Lee "Mattie" (Stafford) Dyer. At age 3, the family moved and finally settled in Franklin, Kentucky. He was the youngest of 13 children and the only boy to survive infancy. Needless to say, he was adored by all of his older sisters. Although he was raised in a family full of love, he grew up very poor. In fact, Jim only finished the third grade before he dropped out of the one-room schoolhouse he attended in order to work on the tobacco farm with his parents. He was determined to, one day, have a better life for himself and his family.
In 1950, he met his soulmate, Emma Lee Parks. After dating a few years they were married at the Simpson County Courthouse in Franklin, Kentucky on February 21, 1953. As Emma used to tell it, "I turned 16 on February 12th, got my engagement ring on the 14th, and we were married on the 21st!" They were married for 71 years, 7 months and 3 days when she passed away on September 24, 2024.
Almost a week after their 2nd anniversary, they welcomed their first child, a daughter, Teresa Lee Dyer in February 1955. Jim will go on to say "Your first child is quite special!" and I loved her dearly". Only three months after her birth, the family packed and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in search of that better life he dreamt of as a child. They were later joined by Emma's entire family and they all lived in a row of houses on the same street. They would all gather for dinner, play music "Jim on guitar and Emma on tambourine" and danced every week, and even play a game of baseball when the weather was nice.
After arriving in Indy, he found success moving up through different companies, his longest-held position being at Stewart-Carey Building Materials working as a sales and warehouse manager. At home, he was always finding new ways to further the education he missed out on by reading Teresa's school books and helping with homework. Even in the last few weeks of life, he was always trying to improve himself in different ways. In 1964, after achieving a comfortable lifestyle for his family, the couple built their dream home in a neighborhood on the west side of Indy. They would move in on New Years Eve 1965 and live there for another 40 years. Being the social creatures that they were, they developed lifelong friendships with many of their neighbors and would even go on to travel all of North America with a few of them.
By 1967, Jim and Emma had given up on trying for more children and had happily settled into life as they knew it. However, God had other plans and surprised them in August 1967 with their "beautiful boy", who they named James Martin Dyer, Jr., they called him "Marty". Finally, their family was complete. They would spend their days loving their children, teaching them the importance of family, traveling most of the United States, and instilling in them the same morals and values they held; honesty, respect, and hard work. Jim's top goal for his children was for them to graduate high school, and they did. He said this was one of his proudest moments as a parent. So far, all of his descendants have gone on to graduate high school and attend college.
In 1994, Jim and his son went on to form their own business, Secure Siding and More, until he retired in 1998. His son went on to lead the business for another 18 years. It is with these skills, taught to him by his father, that Marty was able to build a home for his parents, right down the road from him on the back roads of Paragon, Indiana. And in 2007, they would move into that home, where they would live out their days, in love, together. Jim enjoyed the rest of his life gardening, traveling, playing euchre and Skip-Bo, spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attending Samaria Baptist Church, and spending every single day with Emma by his side.
Jim is survived by his children, Teresa (Ralph) Brooks of Mooresville, and Marty (Susie) Dyer of Paragon; Grandchildren, Christopher Martin Brooks of Indianapolis, Stephanie (Scott) Heckman of Indianapolis, Leigh Ann (Dustin) Brown of Monrovia, and James Martin "Jamie" Dyer, III of Lowell; great grandchildren, Miya (Cedric) Reynolds of Louisville, Kentucky, Emma Heckman of Indianapolis, Alanah Brooks of Indianapolis, Addisson "Gracie" Brown of Monrovia, James Martin "LJ" Dyer, IV of Clayton, Bennett James Brown of Monrovia, Layne Jessup of Anderson, and Ava Bailey of Franklin; great-great granddaughter Addelaide Reynolds of Louisville, Kentucky. As well as several nieces, nephews, and friends.
Along with his parents, Jim is preceded in death by his wife and soulmate Emma; one brother, 11 sisters and their husbands, his in-laws, and several nieces, nephews, and family friends.
Visitation is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at Costin Funeral Chapel. Services are Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Costin Funeral Chapel with Pastor Chuck West officiating. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Jim will be laid to rest at White Lick Cemetery in Mooresville.