A young man of 17 years, C. L. Dyer moved from Putnum County, Tennessee to Grayson County, Texas in 1900. In Grayson County he farmed and operated a peddling wagon which was popular in that period of time as a means for farmers and their families to trade poultry and eggs for cloth, pots and pans, and other household and food items. It was during this time he met his future wife, Lola Pearl Cato of Pilot Grove.Because of failing health and the lure of the Plains, C. L. came west in 1913; and after spending the night in Crosbyton, he decided to stay. With improved health, a song on his lips, and growing contentment in Crosby County, C. L. acquired the name of "Happy" and thereafter was usually known as Happy Dyer. In 1916 he and Pearl were married and he continued to work with C. B. Livestock Company in their dairy, farming and ranching operations. For a while Happy, "Miss Pearl" and young Delia lived at the Bar-N-Bar Ranch Headquarters known as the Rock House. After Sidney Webb purchased the C. B. Livestock interest, they moved to the company´s Lorenzo farm and lived there about one year before returning to Crosbyton.
Being a merchant at heart, Happy soon entered the grocery business, first with Jake Mabe, Ed Karr and others. And then for many years he operated his own grocery business. During these years Elnora, C. L., Jr., (Carroll), and Hershel were born into the family. Their home was built across the street just west of the Church of Christ building where they attended services. The doors of their home were always open to other, especially to visiting ministers of the gospel. Pearl died in 1936 leaving Happy to finish rearing their children. In 1943 Happy sold his business and moved to Lubbock and then to Muleshoe where he was in the real estate and land business.
Delia married Jim Edwards of Crosbyton and to them were born three daughters; Marion Carol Sawyer of Arkansas, Jimmy Kaye Davidson of Ackerly; and Willie Eastam of Missouri. Jim died in 1960 in Lamesa where Delia continues to make her home.
Elnora became a registered nurse and married Charles Baker of Muleshoe, formerly of Lorenzo. For a number of years Charles was a counselor in the Hobbs, New Mexico school system. They now live in Lubbock. Their daughter and her husband, Jackie and Jim Hinckley, live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and their son and his wife, Ronnie and Linda, live in Levelland.
Carroll attended Texas Tech and then served in the U.S. Air Force in World War II. In 1952 he married Helen Bell, a school teacher from Vernon. They make their home in Lubbock, where he is general manager of Lubbock Sash and Door. Their children are Carroll III of Dallas, Jack Wesley and Lauren of Lubbock.
After graduating from Abilene Christian College, Hershel served as a minister in Lubbock and Lincoln, Nebraska. For the past 20 years he has been minister of Tenth and Rockford Church of Christ in Tulsa. He married Charlene Boyette in Sweetwater in 1947. Their children are Elizabeth Thompson of Memphis, Tennessee, Russell, and Becky of Tulsa. C. L. Dyer continued as a land broker in Muleshoe until 1957, again serving his fellowman and God faithfully. He died in Lubbock in 1965.
Crosby County History Book, 1876-1977
Transcribed by Cheryl McDonald
Area Resident Since 1916 Dies
C.L. (Happy) Dyer, 82, area resident since 1916, died in University Convalescent Home Sunday afternoon after an illness of about six years.Dyer has resided at the convalescent home for the past six years.
Born May 24, 1883 at Thompkinsville, Ky., he lived in Crosbyton from 1916 to 1942, where he operated a grocery store. Dyer moved to Lubbock for two years, then moved to Muleshoe where he was in the real estate business for about 10 years before his retirement.
He was a member of the Church of Christ.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Church of Christ in Crosbyton with Ebb Randall, Farwell, officiating. Burial will be in Crosbyton Cemetery under direction of Sanders Funeral Home of Lubbock.
Survivors include two sons, Carrol Dyer, 2824 s St., and Hershel Dyer, Tulsa, Okla., formerly Church of Christ minister at the Pioneer Park Church of Lubbock; two daughters, Mrs. C.L. Baker, Hobbs, N.M., and Mrs. Jim Edwards, Lamesa; four brothers, H.J. Dyer, Denton, W.A. Dyer, E.B. Dyer, and R.P. Dyer, all of Cookeville, Tenn.; and two sisters, Mrs. Jim Cowan and Mrs. Comer Brown, both of Cookeville, Tenn. 11 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Crosbyton Review, July 1965
Submitted by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
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