Wilma Lucille Dyer

Wilma Lucille (McDowell) Dyer was born March 23, 1937, in Wetumka, OK. She departed this life on July 25th, 2025 at the age of 88.

Wilma, the youngest daughter of Thomas Ira and Lucinda Elizabeth (Rogers) McDowell, was a resident of Shawnee, OK, after spending a short time as a resident of Prague, OK, and several decades in Seminole, OK. She graduated from Wetumka High School and continued her education at Seminole State College and Gordon Cooper Vo-Tech. She met her future husband, Donald Wayne Dyer, after his return from a tour of duty in the Oklahoma 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War. Wilma and Donald were married August 15, 1954.

Wilma was an active participant in many organizations including teaching Sunday school, singing in the church choir, playing piano and organ for church services, attending mission events, and volunteering at school. She loved to attend Seminole High School football games and watch her daughter in drill-team, and her son in the marching band. She was an incredible cook, avid master gardener, and a social butterfly, supporting and spending her free time helping others and concentrating on her family. She worked in the Seminole Public School System from 1978 to her retirement in 1999, knowing many children in the elementary education system their entire time in the school. Often recognized, she relished in knowing how her “kids” had grown and flourished through their education.

As of her final days, she attended Heritage Church in Shawnee, OK, but was well known for her time at Faith Community Church of God, Shawnee, OK, and First Church of God and Freewill Baptist Church, Seminole, OK.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers (Elva, Thomas (Edsel) and Eldon McDowell), four sisters (Cynthia Brown, Lois McDowell, V. Ruth McDowell, and Mildred Chandler).

She is survived by her husband, Donald Wayne Dyer, her daughter, Deborah Ann (Dyer) Goss and Deborah’s husband Jeffrey Scott Goss, Shawnee, OK, and her son, Jeffrey Wayne Dyer, Oklahoma City, OK. She is also survived by three granddaughters: Olivia Kate (Goss) Wood and her husband Justin Wood of Shawnee, Maris Rose Goss of Shawnee, and Elizabeth “Bizzy” (Goss) Chlouber and her husband Cade Chlouber of Shawnee; two great grandsons: Evert and Harrison Wood, and three great granddaughters: Jocelyn and Finley Wood, and Bonnie Chlouber. She was loved by nieces, nephews, and so many friends they can’t all be mentioned.

Her celebration of life has been planned for 10am on Friday, August 1st at the Walker Funeral Home Chapel in Shawnee Oklahoma, located at 201 E 45th Street, Shawnee, OK, 74804. Officiating the service will be her former pastor and friend, Reverend Tom Harrison. Burial will follow at the Little Cemetery in Seminole, Oklahoma.

Psalms 128:6 (KJV) – Yea, thou shalt see they children’s children.