PAWTUCKET—Rev. Raymond E. Dyer, 89, Pastor Emeritus of St. Kevin Church, Warwick, died April 7, 2012.
Born in Providence, a son of the late Martin F. and Anna U. (Burns) Dyer, he attended public schools, La Salle Academy and Providence College.
He completed studies for the priesthood at St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Md., and at the Catholic University of Washington, D.C., and was ordained a priest on June 15, 1946 at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence by Bishop Francis P. Keough.
In July 1946 Father Dyer was appointed assistant pastor of St. Augustin Church and teacher at de La Salle Academy, both in Newport. In 1952 he was assigned to St. Augustine Church in Providence as assistant pastor. From 1952 to 1958 he was also a teacher at La Salle Academy in Providence and from 1958 to 1972 chaplain at the Father Patrick I. O’Rourke Children’s Center, also in Providence. In February 1971 he became pastor of St. Joseph Church in North Scituate. In February 1976 Father Dyer was assigned as pastor to St. Kevin Church in Warwick and served there until his retirement as pastor emeritus in January 1992.
After his retirement from parish administration, Father Dyer became chaplain at Mount St. Rita Health Centre in Cumberland and offered weekend help at various parishes, especially at St. Joseph Church in Ashton.
In addition to his parish and teaching duties, Father Dyer served also as chaplain of the Newport Society of the Junior Catholic Daughters of America (1952); chaplain of the Providence Squadron No. 3B R.I. Wing Civil Air Patrol (1953); chaplain for the North Scituate Police Department (1972); chaplain of the Warwick Firefighters’ Association Local #2748 (1980); and a member of the Council of Priests’ of the Diocese of Providence (1987-90).
Father Dyer was the brother of the late Sister Ida E. Dyer, RSM.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of his soul was held on April 11 at Mount St. Rita Health Centre Chapel, Cumberland with Bishop Robert C. Evans as the main celebrant and Bishop Ernest B. Boland and other clergy concelebrating. Rev. Maurice Brindamour, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Woonsocket, was the homilist. Burial was in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket.
