On Saturday, December 27, 2025, our father Harry Eugene Dryer passed on to his eternal home in Heaven. His last days were spent in the comfort of his family and friends at the VA Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

Harry had a true love affair with our mother Bette Lee Dryer that lasted over sixty years, and he was heartbroken with her passing last February. His life with Mom was always family centered with weekend trips to various parks like the Science Center in Des Moines, Lake Ahquabi south of Indianola, Ledges State Park in Boone, summer evenings at the pool, sprint car races in Knoxville, Fourth of July in Milo, coaching various softball, baseball, basketball and football teams, annual summer vacations to Florida, and of course following the various activities of the children, even into adulthood. There were no "guys nights out" or trips without the family. If Bette was not going, then Harry wouldn't be going either. It was a marriage based on true love, friendship and loyalty.

Harry was born on March 21, 1939, in Trenton, Missouri to Margaret Baker Dryer and William Hoover Dryer. Harry was proud of his hometown and told stories of his various adventures with friends growing up in the small Missouri town. He was specifically proud of his time playing football and baseball for the Bulldogs with friends he kept in touch with the rest of his life. Prior to meeting the love of his life and getting into the insurance business, Harry proudly served in the United States Coast Guard. He was stationed in Florida where he met "the little red-headed lady," Bette Lee.

Harry married Bette on January 9, 1963, and started a family in Tampa, Florida. After the birth of their fourth child, the family made the move north with a short stop in Trenton, Missouri. Soon they relocated to Indianola, Iowa where Bette took her job as mother and wife very seriously, and Harry became the bread winner through his work in the insurance industry with USF&G and Ohio Casualty. Together Harry and Bette made the decision to raise the family with Mom at home with the four children. This single income arrangement often left the family short on the extras but long on love and commitment.

The family stayed connected to Harry's Missouri roots with various trips to Grandma and Grandpa Dryer's house in Trenton. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and camping/grilling at Crowder State Park. Weekends throughout the year and one to two week stays for the grandkids in the summer were opportunities to see grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends in the Trenton area. There three-bedroom, one-bathroom house seemed like a mansion when we were all there together, and as only Harry could describe it, "Grandma Dryer's food will set you free."

Harry was proceeded in death by his beloved wife Bette Lee Dryer and William Hoover Dryer (father), Margaret Rose Dryer (mother), Susanah Baker Dryer (daughter) and Eva Dryer-Wilson (sister). He is survived by Margaret Dryer-Steffens/Mark (daughter), William "Scott" Dryer/Brenda (son), Matthew Dryer/Brenda (son), Linda Dryer-Rackers (sister), Michael Dryer/Courtney (grandson), Katie Dryer (granddaughter), Madeline Blackman/Cody (granddaughter), Matthew Dryer (grandson), Ella Dryer (granddaughter), Besty Dryer (granddaughter), Sarah Steffens (granddaughter), Molly Dryer (granddaughter), Elliotte Blackman (great-granddaughter), Kaysen Dryer (great-grandson), and many other family members and friends.

Honorary pall bearers include Lynn McCallum (life-long family friend and the sister our mother never had), Rusty Wilson (cousin), Lance Williams (cousin), Roxy Wilson (friend), Max Stover (friend), and the wonderful nurses and staff at the VA Hospital in Des Moines (heroes).

The family is extremely grateful for the love, compassion and care Harry received in his last days at the VA Hospital in Des Moines.  A Celebration of Life will be held 9:30 to 11:30, Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola, Iowa, where family will be present to greet friends. There will be time to share remembrances from family beginning at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the family in Harry's memory.

Matthew 19: 5-6

…a man will leave his father and mother and will be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.