DORRIS HENRY BYRER Dorris D. (Henry) Byrer, 97, of New Boston, New Hampshire, formerly of Philippi, died on Monday evening, October 4, at Courville Communities Nursing Home, in Manchester, N.H. She was born July 9, 1913, at Camden, Lewis County, a daughter of the late James and Chloe (Harrison) Henry. On August 14, 1939, she was married to George A. Byrer, who preceded her in death on December 23, 1980. She was also preceded in death by one brother, James Henry and by three sisters, Opal Martino, Emily Simon and Eva Henry. Survivors include a brother, John Henry, Dayton, Oh.; three children, Debra Gilligan and husband, Edward, New Boston, Charles Byrer and wife, Jan, Morgantown, John Byrer and wife, Dianne, Philippi; ten grandchildren, John (Cindy) Byrer Jr., Kristie (Michael) Callihan, Sarah Beth (Eric) Rice, Johannah Chloe (Rob) Rostoni, Jenny (Nate) Chartier, Emily Ruth Byrer, Mark H. (Lauren) Byrer, Erin (Tom Chase) Gilligan, Rebekah (Steve) Orner and Matthew Byrer; and sixteen great grandchildren, Hannah and Garret Chartier, Caleb and Evan Rice, Nathan, Spencer and Joshua Rostoni, Jack and Luke Byrer, Kaitlynn, Holly, Rosalie and Benjamin Byrer, Lillian Chase, Aiden Callihan and Ruthann Orner. Mrs. Byrer was a 1931 graduate of Weston High School. She attended Hagerstown Library School and graduated from Fairmont State College with the class of 1937. Upon graduating from F.S.C., she worked as an assistant librarian at Marshall College. In 1938, Mrs. Byrer worked for the WPA and became the administrator for the Northern district of West Virginia. She was instrumental in establishing the first traveling book mobile that covered 18 counties. Mrs. Byrer also worked as a substitute teacher for several years in Barbour County. She was one of the original founders of the Football Mother’s Club and spent many years organizing and coordinating fund-raisers for the athletic department at Philippi High School. She also helped to establish the first Youth Center in Philippi, where she taught art to local youths. In 1961, she began working for the W.Va. Department of Welfare (now the W.Va. Department of Health and Human Resources) and retired in 1977 as the director for Barbour County. While living in New Hampshire, she was an active member of the Senior Citizens Group and spent a great deal of time working and developing business policies during the early years of Abigail’s Bakery. She was an artist who enjoyed painting landscapes of West Virginia and New England. She continued to stay active through volunteering, participating in community projects and caring for others in need. Mrs. Byrer was a member of the Philippi Baptist Church and a member of the Mary Martha Sunday School Class. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 9, from the Stemple & Forman Funeral Home, 385 So. Main Street, Philippi. The Rev. Bert Coffman will officiate and interment will follow in the Mt. Vernon Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 3:00 until 9:00 P.M. on Friday and from 9:00 until 11:00 A.M., the funeral hour, on Saturday. The family requests memorials in the form of contributions to the George Byrer Football Scholarship Fund. The Stemple & Forman Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
