Only four months after taking office, Alexandria Mayor Lloyd Dyer passed away suddenly last week. It was to be his first four-year term as Mayor, having been sworn in on August 23 during an Alexandria Town Council Meeting. Dyer, 72, passed away four months to the day, on Friday, December 23 at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital. Dyer had served previously as an Alexandria alderman and vice mayor.

Dyer was born in Baxter on June 23, 1950. After graduating at Upperman High School in Baxter, Dyer went to work at TRW in Lebanon in 1971 and worked there for 41 years. It was during this time he joined the UAW local 342 of Lebanon. After finding the love of his life, Louise Burnett Dyer, he moved to Alexandria, and fell in love with the town and the people who lived there.

Only wanting to help bring the town back to the way it was and more. He served on the town board as Alderman, Vice Mayor, and to his surprise, the current Mayor of Alexandria.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, James Lee Dyer and Vestie Harris Dyer of Baxter; two daughters, Lisa Michelle Hieatt and Debra Denise Dyer both of Baxter; granddaughter, McKinsey Grace Cannon; great grandson, Bobby Quinn Phillips; and a nephew, James Brian Haggard. He is also preceded in death by two brothers, Jimmy Dyer and Billy Dyer of Baxter.

Lloyd left behind his wife of 38 years, Louise Burnett Dyer of Alexandria; son, Brandon Lloyd (Mandee) Dyer of Liberty; stepsons, James Keith Cannon, Jr (Rebecca Smith) of Cookeville and Tracy Allen (Leslie H.) Cannon of Smithville; sister, Mary Nell (Eugene) Haggard. He also has 12 grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral service were held on Dec. 28, at the Chapel of Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria with interment at Hillview Cemetery.