Peggy Finley Abernathy Dyer

Peggy Abernathy Dyer, “Mama A” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was born May 1, 1929, and passed away in Tyler, Texas on October 18, 2016. Her graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, October 21, 2016, at Gladewater Memorial Park Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church of Gladewater under the direction of Croley Funeral Home.

Mama A had a loving and generous spirit and spent her life caring for her friends, family, and community. Her homemade bread, bread sticks, and sugar cookies were famous, sought after and cherished by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and often shipped cross-country to grateful friends and family. Mama A was never happier than when she was helping others and will always be a shining example of kindness and unconditional love. All who knew her greatly admired her selflessness and attentiveness to the needs of others. She was the living embodiment of I Corinthians 13:4-13, patient, kind, forgiving, faithful, and humble. Mama A loved playing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and could always be counted on for a game of Old Maid, Sorry, Guess Who, or The Christmas Game.

Peggy was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Maynard and Vivian Rowe Finley. She graduated Carthage High School in 1947 and married Curtis Quentin Abernathy also of Carthage on August 12, 1948. The couple made their home in Carthage, where Peggy worked at Panola Junior College and Quentin was a banker. While in Carthage, they welcomed five children into their family. In 1958, Quentin was appointed President of The First State Bank, and they moved their young family to Gladewater. Peggy reared her five children with love, patience, and humor, while serving as a room mother and referee to her spirited clan. Peggy and Quentin loved to travel, and she continued this tradition with her daughter, Vicki, with recent trips to San Francisco, Charleston, Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada. Following Quentin's death in 1985, Peggy married Bob Dyer of Waco on September 15, 2001, and eagerly adopted Bob's five children as her own. Peggy's love of family extended to her aunts and uncles, Glady and Earl “Bub” Starr and Bina Hurst, whom she cared for in their senior years.

Peggy served her community as a CASA advocate, a volunteer for East Texas Literacy Council, and a driver for Meals on Wheels. An active member of First United Methodist Church for more than five decades, Peggy taught Sunday School for twenty-five years and served as an acolyte coordinator and children's choir director. She rarely missed the church's aerobics class and faithfully lent her talents to Creative Christians. Her dedication to her church and its members, both young and old, was a sign of her deep faith and servant's heart.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Quentin Abernathy, her grandson Carter Garrett Abernathy, her brother Jack Finley, her daughter-in-law Cindy Abernathy, and her husband Bob Dyer. She is survived by her brother Bill and his wife Wanzelle of White Oak, sons Mark Abernathy and his wife Nancy of Longview, Larry Abernathy of Athens, Brent Abernathy and his wife Janice, and Kent Abernathy and his wife Laura of Gladewater and daughter Vicki and her husband Phillip Cockerell of Bossier City, Louisiana. She is also survived by Mark's children Leslie and her husband Burke Johnson of Denver, Clay Abernathy and his wife Jaclyn, and Claire and her husband David Henry of Longview; Larry's children Cassie and her husband Brian Marsh of Dallas, Chris Abernathy of Flower Mound, Jason Abernathy of Irving, Chris Prince and his wife Michelle of McKinney, Daniel Prince of Denton, and Melissa and her husband James Cobler of Carrollton; Vicki's children Clint Cockerell and his wife Lauren of Fort Worth, Casey Cockerell also of Fort Worth, and Candy Cockerell of Dallas; Brent's daughter Katie and her husband Corey Ellis of Gladewater; and Kent's children Aaron and Blair Abernathy of Gladewater. Her great-grandchildren, the light of her life, are Beth Marsh, Jack Madison Abernathy, Anna and Kate Johnson, Eloise and Sarah Henry, Kamdyn Abernathy, Carter Ellis, Belle Cockerell, Austin and Tyler Prince, and Georgia Prince. Peggy is also survived by Bob's family, daughters Yvonne and her husband Leon Cione of San Antonio, Michelle Dyer of Houston, Suzanne and her husband Shawn Hinman of Bartlett, Tennessee, and Niki Dyer of North Richland Hills; and son Mike Dyer of Houston; Yvonne's children Angeline Cione of Washingto, D.C. and Chayce Cione and his wife Ashley and son Wyatt of Aurora, Colorado; and Suzanne's son Seth McKeithen.

Pallbearers are Peggy's grandsons and grandsons-in-law.

The Abernathy and Dyer families would like to thank Mama A's caregiver, Mary Ann “Coconut” Jackson, and the other loving ladies who gave her such excellent care; Treviso rehab therapy team, Karen, Amy, and Kelly; Cherry Sikes and the excellent staff of Heartis; and the compassionate nurses, doctors, and administrators of Hospice of East Texas Homeplace. You were a blessing to us all.

If desired, memorials may be sent to Hospice of East Texas, the Carter Garrett Abernathy Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Todd Clifton at Austin Bank of Gladewater, Creative Christians at First United Methodist Church of Gladewater, the East Texas Literacy Council, or a charity of your choice.