Paula Kay Dyer

Paula Kay Dyer of Beckley WV, died peacefully in the presence of loved ones, June 15, 2015 at Cabell Huntington Hospital, following a long illness. She was born Paula Kay Hayner, on May 31st 1948 and brought home to a small and humble house at Hainer / Hayner Hollow in Chapmanville WV by her Father Opie Paul Hayner, fresh from marching from France to Germany in WWII, and her Mother Ruby Nell (Kessinger) Hayner. Paula soon moved to Beckley WV and grew up surrounded by the adoration of her parents. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1966, and decided to dedicate her life to the service of others. Graduating in 1971 from Concord College in Athens WV with a degree in Social Work, she began a 40 year career of dedicated service to those who needed society’s help the most. During her career, Paula touched the lives of countless hundreds of people in her work with child protective services, families in crisis, and children in foster care. Eventually her work led her into the field of services for the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and special needs adults and children. She was instrumental in the deinstitutionalization and the establishment of modern and effective community mental health services in Southern West Virginia. Paula served in the capacity of program manager and director of programs for several community mental health agencies eventually retiring from Southern Highlands CMHC, as a Director. During her very accomplished career, she was a positive change agent and mother figure to hundreds of children, adults, and families she served, and she took the opportunity to teach, mentor, and shape many of those who enjoy careers in the social services and mental health service provider fields today. Her professional legacy of hands on work with those who have special needs, innovation in community mental health services, and selfless humble care of the disabled lives on in those lives she has touched and in the careers of others she helped shape. As much joy as her professional live gave her, the one thing that brought Paula the most happiness was her family. She was a very proud, loving, and dedicated “Maw-Maw” to her five grandchildren whom she adored with a perfect joy and love. Paula was an Episcopalian by faith and over time attended church services at St. Stephen’s, Beckley and St. Andrew’s, Oak Hill. She found true love late in life and was blessed daily by her relationship with the man she called “her soul mate," Tomas Stadler, of Beckley. She was preceded in death by an infant sibling, and her precious mother, Ruby Nell Hayner. Left to cherish her memory are her Father, Opie Paul Hayner; The Love of Her Life, Tomas Stadler; Son, Chris Dyer and His Wife Angela Dyer; Daughter, Mary Dyer; and Grandchildren Christopher Dyer, Madyson Dyer, Christian Dyer, Katherine Dyer, and Lily Dyer; along with numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, family, and close friends. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made, in Paula’s Name, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, by phone at 1-800-805-5856 or by mail at 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 Source Code:IIQ140788777.