DWYER, Hartley G., 86, Weston, Oct. 4, 2016. Services were held at 1 p.m. at the Haynesville Baptist Church. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton.
WESTON — Hartley G. Dwyer, 86, went to be with his Lord on October 4, 2016 with his girls on each side holding his hands, telling him they loved him, as he slipped into his loving Saviors arms. He was born October 19, 1929 in Houlton, the son of George and Ida Mae (Coffey) Dwyer.
He was a graduate of Danforth High School, attended Ricker College, graduated from Northern Virginia Community College and Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C., for the International Boundaries Commission as an engineer. For forty years he was an active member of the Groveton Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. He was a deacon for many of those years and along with the help of his wife, he was a children’s Sunday School teacher. He was also a long time Boy Scout leader. One of his greatest joys was working with children. He helped start the clothes closet and food pantry for those in need, which is still open today. He also counseled those with domestic issues, as well as the street people on drugs and those dealing with alcohol issues. He touched many people’s lives, some without even knowing it. He and his wife retired to Maine in 2000 to be with family and for Hartley to enjoy the outdoor way of life away from the big city. He enjoyed both fishing and hunting, and at a young age he became a registered Maine guide, which he was very proud of. He was an active member and deacon of the Haynesville Baptist Church, as it was very important to him to serve the Lord. He was a member of the Baskehegan Masonic Lodge #175 and a 32nd degree member of Scottish Rites in Bangor.
Friends and family were very important to him and to them he was known as “Hart.” His daughters were his pride and joy. Another great joy was being called grampy and great grampy. He loved the many family gatherings where there was lots of laughter and fun. Hart loved to tell stories, jokes and was forever a tease. He also enjoyed time with friends whether fishing, hunting or playing a game or two or twenty of cribbage. The men that worked on the boundary for Hart knew the work day was for work and that he would never ask them to do anything that he wasn’t going to be right there working beside them doing the same thing, but watch out when they returned to camp at the end of the day. They never knew what teasing or practical joke might be waiting ahead for them during the evening for the “boss.” He took as well as he gave. Hartley felt God had truly blessed his life.
He is survived by his two daughters and their husbands, Debbi and Bruce Sprich of Highlands, NC, Susan and Bruce Aldrich of Haynesville; 11 grandchildren, Laura Goeb, Kristen Snable, Christina Wright, Traci Aldrich, Paige Lammons, Teagan and Teanne Ewings, Kim Green, Debbie Ryer, Jenny Srygley and David Sprich; 20 great grandchildren, Savannah Dearman, Ethan Goeb, Lola and Mae Snable, Ryan and Reagan Wright, Quentin Shea, Jackson and Quinn Lammons, Grace, Joseph and Gabrielle Green, Hope and Zach Ryer, Hallie, Hannah, Preston and Makayla Srygley, Jordan and Madison Sprich; special sister-in-law, Carol Gould; special cousins, Alton “Bud” Dwyer; special friends, Clyde Martin, George White, Charles and Avis Earley; many nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Christina “Tina” J. (Gould); brothers, Stanley and Montie as well as Kenneth and Wayne when they were infants; six sisters, Myrtle, Glennie, Doris, Dola, Katherine and two-year-old Dorothy; a special brother-in-law, Byron L. Gould and special friend, Calvin Doane.
The family would like to thank Dad’s home care provider, Katie Dow. She was more than a provider, she was part of our family. To dad she was another daughter and to us, another sister. She had so much love for Dad and helped take such good care of him. Dad looked forward to the days she would be there. She was kind enough to listen to his stories, some many times over. It was nice to hear Dad and Katie laughing at the dining room table. Katie got a lot of Dad’s teasing too but she took it with a grain of salt. Dad even tried to teach her how to play cribbage. She also gave Dad his greatest joy which was one last time to go hunting. For that we will forever be grateful.
Friends called 12-1 p.m. on Saturday, October 8th at the Haynesville Baptist Church where funeral services were held 1 p.m. with the Pastors Steve Straubel and Steve McNally officiating. Interment will be in the Selden Cemetery. A reception was held at The First Settler’s Lodge following the interment. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 200 Office Park Drive Suite 115, Birmingham, AL 35223 in honor of his great-grandchildren, Hope and Zach Ryer of Trussville, AL. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www. bowersfuneral.com.
“REMEMBER FRIENDS AS YOU PASS BY, AS YOU ARE NOW SO ONCE WAS I. AS I AM NOW SO WILL YOU BE. REMEMBER FRIENDS ETERNITY!!!”
