Grace Wellman Dyer Sturgeon

Grace Wellman Dyer Sturgeon, born September 28, 1930 in Wayne County, West Virginia, to Carl Wellman and Frankie McCoy Wellman, died April 18, 2015. She is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Roberta Faye Freeman, her step-mother Lois Wellman and her step-brother, James Sutton. Her relationship with her first husband, George E. Dyer began when she tripped him at the skating rink in Huntington, West Virginia. After marrying George, on May 28, 1949, she often joked about earning her “PhT” (putting hubby through school), as they moved from Huntington, West Virginia to Anderson, Indiana, Big Spring, Texas and finally Lubbock, Texas, as he pursued his PhD. In 1966 the couple moved to Little Rock, where he began his teaching career at UALR. After his death, she married Howard M. Sturgeon, with whom she enjoyed traveling the country. Grace and Howard settled in Lehigh Acres, Florida, where she enjoyed teaching crafts at the Senior Center. Grace was well known for her crafting and sewing skills and has a wall of ribbons awarded from the county, district and state fairs. She had a generous spirit and enjoyed helping others. With her friend, Billie Taylor, she made hundreds of dresses for the girls of Africa and Haiti, blankets and sock monkeys for Children’s Hospital, and other crafts to help patients in nursing homes and hospitals. Grace was especially proud of the patent for an oxygen holder for a walker that she and her friend, Billie, applied for and were granted when she was 80. She was a spirited woman with a strong faith in God and a deep and reciprocated love for her family and friends. She is survived by her son, Carl Wesley Dyer, Sr. (Marsha) of White Hall, Arkansas; grandson, Carl Wesley Dyer, Jr. (Lisa) of Jonesboro, Arkansas; granddaughter, Laura Elizabeth Johnson (Jeff) of Little Rock, Arkansas, and her brother, Bud Danny Wellman (Connie) of Catlettsburg, Kentucky. She is also survived by two step-sons, Donald Sturgeon (Barbara) of Dayton, Ohio and Jim Sturgeon (Tami) of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, five great-grandchildren, two nephews and five nieces. She leaves behind many friends in Arkansas, West Virginia and Florida. The family would like to thank the staff at Baptist Hospital, White Hall Nursing Home, Nursing and Rehabilitation at Good Shepherd and Hospice Home Inpatient Center for the care and many kindnesses during her illness. Services will be at 3:00 PM Wednesday, April 22nd at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Visitation will 1:30 PM Wednesday until service time at the funeral home. Graveside services will be conducted at 11:30 AM Saturday at Ridgelawn Memorial Park, Huntington. Burial follow. Reger Funeral Home is assisting the family. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to White Hall United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 20880, White Hall, Arkansas 71612. Online register is available at www.ruggleswilcox.com