Theresa Marie Fontenot Dyer passed away in Lake Charles, La., on Feb. 15, 2013.

She was born on October 28, 1926, and was the first child of August and Alice Fontenot. She was raised in Lake Charles and later relocated to Houston, Texas. There, she and her husband owned and operated several successful businesses. She was widowed in 1973 and later returned to Lake Charles. She subsequently lived in Anchorage, Alaska, and Little Rock, Ark., before returning home in 2009.

She was a devoted Catholic and faithfully attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She had a beautiful smile, a great sense of humor and a flair for fashion. She enjoyed gatherings with family and friends, especially when children, animals or sports were involved. She loved music (mostly blues), family reunions and her club meetings. Her memory will forever fill the hearts of those who were blessed to know her.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Lou Anne and Corris Dossman, Sr., of Alaska, sister-in-law Georgia Frank of Louisiana, step-daughter Ethel Delores Scott, step-granddaughter Delores (John) Walls, and stepgreat-granddaughters Chloe Richards and Daviana Foster of Texas. Her surviving nieces and nephews are Sheena Jackson, Gail (Joe) Tolliver, Tami (Larry) Cook, Jonathan (Julie) Higgins, Adrian (Sydney) Dossman, Todd (Melody) Dossman of Alaska, Michael (Osa) Higgins of Florida, Kim (Adrian) Hernandez of Virginia, Alicia Higgins, Diedre (Robert) Jones, Mark Higgins, Gregory (Michelle) Higgins, Ignatius (Agnes) Higgins, Eric (Karen) Higgins of Arkansas, 39 great-nieces and -nephews, 17 great-great-nieces and -nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Emile Dyer, parents August and Alice Fontenot, sister and brother-in-law Gertrude and Ignatius Hurd Higgins and nephew Corris Dossman, Jr. Visitation will be at Combre Funeral Home on Friday, Feb. 22, from 6 to 9pm. Funeral Mass will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m. (viewing one hour prior to service). Interment will be at Combre Cemetery.