Edward Kyer, Jr.

Edward, “Butch” Kyer, Jr., age 68 of Port St. Lucie, FL passed away Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at Treasure Coast Hospice House surrounded by the love of family and friends after a courageous forty day battle with pancreatic cancer. Ed was born June 11th, 1940 in New York City, NY to Anne (Kessler) Kyer and the late Edward Kyer, Sr. He grew up on Holiday Horse Farm in White Creek, NY, played football for Cambridge Central High School, rode with the Ridge Runners Saddle Club and flew with the International Flying Farmers. At age 17 Ed enlisted for four years service in the Navy, including eighteen months in Okinawa during the Vietnam War. After the Navy he served over thirty years with the Air Force, retiring in 1996 as a Master Sergeant. A graduate of Hudson Valley Community College, Ed enjoyed a creative and challenging career designing Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems for large medical facilities.

Known by many as a gentle, quiet man, Ed’s work ethic and dedication to community service were ideals he lived by and instilled in his four daughters. He raised his family in Windsor, CT. As a man of deep faith, his involvement on church committees in CT and FL, in local politics and was extensive; he was a devoted member of the Windsor Garden Club, and served terms as President of CT Toastmasters and Secretary to Port St. Lucie Homeowners Association. Ed loved nature - gardening and bird watching were lifelong passions; he enjoyed woodworking and had a special interest in building birdhouses.

Ed is survived by his loving wife Barbara (O’Leary) Kyer of Port St. Lucie, FL; daughters Michelle Ferrante of South Windsor, CT; Jennifer Kyer of Fort Lauderdale, FL; Andrea Kyer of Philadelphia, PA and Aryn Kyer and son-in-law Tony Palmieri of Middletown, CT and a sister, Mary Lyn Martin of Uniontown, OH.
Services will be held Sunday, March 1st, 2pm at Community United Methodist Church in Fort Pierce, FL; with burial on Wednesday, March 4th at 11am in Windsor Veterans Cemetery, Windsor, CT. A casual reception will follow the Florida service in the CUMC Fellowship Hall, and the burial in CT at Union Street Tavern in Windsor, CT. The family will receive friends on Saturday February 28th at Haisley Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, FL.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to benefit pancreatic cancer research are made in his name to Johns Hopkins Hospital, 401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242 Baltimore, MD 21231-2410.