Harold Eugene Dye, 86, died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011 at his home in Ava following a battle with lung cancer. He was born Jan. 17, 1925 in Ava, Mo., to Henry and Helen (Peterson) Dye. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gordon Dye.
On May 10, 1953, he married Faye Rippee in Ava and to this union two sons were born, Allen Wayne Dye and Ronald Eugene Dye.
Harold attended the Ava schools. When he was 17 years old, he and his father went to Kansas and worked in the wheat harvest. On returning to Ava, he worked in a grocery store and drove a milk truck. Harold was one of the first linemen for the telephone service in the Ava area, starting out with Ava & Mansfield Telephone Co. changing to GE then to GTE Telephone Company and retiring after 33 years.
Harold enjoyed woodworking, hobby farming, gardening and helping with the youth at church. He loved time on the farm with his Kubota tractor and loader, cutting up trees for firewood. Harold was a Scout leader and enjoyed spending time with the boys. Harold was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church.
Harold is survived by his wife, Faye, of the home; and his two sons, Allen Wayne and wife, Lynn, of Iowa City, Iowa, and Ronald Eugene of Sangor, Texas. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Christopher Dye of Iowa City and Kathryn Dye of Denton, Texas; a sister, Lucille Burk and husband, Leo, of Springfield, Mo., and other relatives and many friends around Ava.
Harold was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home Chapel, Ava, Mo. Visitation was Friday, from 1 p.m. to service time in the funeral home. Officiating was Pastor Tom Maples. Memorials may be made to Gideons International.
Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.
