Jacqueline Lesh Dyer died peacefully on January 19, 2013.

She was born July 1, 1920 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, the third of four children of Jacob Charles Lesh and Eula Winifred Harker Lesh. Her father died before her fifth birthday, leaving her mother to raise her four children by herself. Jacqueline graduated from Guthrie High School and her education continued at Catholic College of Oklahoma for Women and the University of Houston. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1942. While attending the University of Houston, in 1941 Jacqueline met and became engaged to Everett Dixon Dyer, a fellow student at the university. Because of World War 2, Everett was drafted into the U.S. Army. Jacqueline wrote letters and waited for him for four years while he was in the Pacific war zone. They were married January 12, 1945 in Guthrie, Oklahoma, while he was on a one month’s leave home. Everett returned to the Pacific war and then received his discharge in October 1945. Jacqueline and Everett lived in Austin, Texas in 1946-1947 while he was in graduate school at the University of Texas. Jacqueline worked at the university library. They lived in Houston from 1947 – 1950 where Everett was on the University faculty and Jacqueline was a university librarian. From 1950 – 1954 they lived in Madison, Wisconsin, where Everett earned a PhD. at the University of Wisconsin; Jacqueline was a Bureau of Information and Program Services librarian there. In 1953, a daughter, Janette, was born. The family returned to Houston in 1954 where Everett was on the University of Houston faculty. For many years, Jacqueline was an architectural librarian at the University of Houston. The family lived in Sweden in 1964 when Everett was on sabbatical. Jacqueline had many interests and talents. She was an excellent seamstress, making beautiful clothes for her daughter and herself. She loved to garden and to make artistic flower arrangements. For several years she was a volunteer driver for the Red Cross. She loved books and music and had a lively curiosity about the world. She was a loving and constant companion for her husband and a wonderful mother to her daughter. In 1999, Everett and Jacqueline moved to Sun City, Georgetown, Texas, and enjoyed their retirement. They traveled often, touring Hawaii and the Panama Canal and visiting their daughter and son-in-law who live in Anchorage, Alaska. Everett and Jacqueline returned to Austin in 2009 to live at the Village at the Arboretum, an independent-living apartment complex.

Jacqueline was preceded in death by her father, Jacob Charles Lesh, her mother, Eula Harker Lesh, her sisters, Winifred Lesh Livingston and Juliana Lesh Glazebrook, her brother, Jacob Charles Lesh, Jr., her brothers-in-law, William S. Livingston, Jr. and James Earl Glazebook and her sister-in-law Gloria B. Lesh. She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Everett D. Dyer, her daughter, Janette Dyer Bannan, son-in-law, David B. Bannan, her grandson, Lindsey Stuart Bannan and his wife, Deborah Grace Bannan, nephew, James Earl Glazebrook, Jr., niece, Charlann Lesh Johnson, and dearest friend, Lottie Tannenbaum.

According to Jacqueline’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Hospice Austin for their professional and compassionate care.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on February 2, 2013