Jeanne Anthony Dyer Juraschek

Jeanne Anthony Dyer Juraschek, 89, unexpectedly passed away on January 19, 2016. A native of Morganton, NC, she was born on August 16, 1926, the youngest of Maud Patton and Thomas Anthony’s five children. Jeanne, at age 18, moved to Nashville, TN, to attend Peabody College. She graduated in 1947 and married journalist William F. (“Bill”) Dyer. She taught first grade in Nashville and Smithville, TN, then worked alongside her husband to edit and publish a weekly newspaper, the Smithville (TN) Review, during the early1950s - 1960s.

Always committed to service, she initiated an early childhood education program for the DeKalb County school system and served as Election Commission chair during the 1970s. She earned a MSW in the late 1970s, and practiced clinical social work for 10 years with nursing homes and DeKalb General Hospital. In 2001, she returned to her hometown; edited the Grace Ridge Retirement Community newsletter “Mountain Views”; and was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Jeanne had a passion for the mountains and loved woods-and-wildflower walks. She read the city newspaper every day and was always prepared to discuss current events. She was a wonderful cook, an avid gardener and family historian. Her hobbies included watercolor painting; quilting; reading; and collecting antique textiles and simple handcrafted furniture.

She is survived by one daughter, Delce Dyer, and son-in-law, Murray Lee of Asheville, NC. She was preceded in death by her son, William Thomas (“Tom”) Dyer; husband, William Fuson (“Bill”) Dyer; her parents; three sisters, Mary Anthony, Margaret Lackey and Ann O’Brien; and brother, Phillip Anthony; and husband, John F. (“Jack”) Juraschek whom she married in 2006.

To celebrate her life, the family will receive friends at a memorial service Sunday, January 24, 2:30 p.m. at Grace Ridge. Interment of her remains and graveside service will be in the spring at the Nashville National Cemetery