Charles LeRoy Dryer was called home October 17, 2026 at Wheatland, MO at the age of 79. He was born October 29, 1946, in Holden, MO., to Roy and Virginia Dryer. He was one of six siblings: sister Betty Hampton and late husband Larry, Warsaw, MO., brother James Dryer and wife Twila, Warsaw, MO., sister Glenda Bailey and late husband Bob, Macon, Mo., Bonnie Claunch and late husband Truman, Wheatland, MO., brother Gary Dryer, Kansas City, MO. He was a 1964 graduate from Cass-Midway High School in Freeman, MO. After high school, he served in the United States Army where he was a Military Police Officer, highlighted by his time stationed in Germany. He was awarded a Marksman Badge for the .45 pistol and Sharpshooter Badge for the rifle. After the Army, Charles moved with the family from Freeman to Wheatland, MO in 1970.
He married Mary Sue Breshears in September 1972. The couple was married for 20 years, and from this union they had their only child, Charles (Charley) Dewayne Dryer, born July 17, 1978. Charles was saved in 1988 at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church and went on to become a member of Pleasant Grove. His testimony rang out one Sunday morning after a rough tough man hunbled himself before Jesus to make Heaven his eternal home.
He became a grandfather when Haleigh Gabrielle Dryer (Sterling) was born December 16, 2002. His son Charley met Amy in 2010, and their marriage welcomed two grandsons, Brandon Herring and Brady Herring, into his life. He loved being a father and a grandfather where he always gave his full support and was their biggest fan. The last few years he was so proud to be a great-grandpa, always displaying the biggest smiles.
Charles was a lifelong farmer. He also held a variety of other jobs such as working at al the local cattle sale barns, logging and helping others on their farm. He was always a very hardworking man, doing whatever it took to provide for his family and his livestock. He loved farming and loved animals; if there ever was someone who was an animal whisperer it was Charles. Nothing got in the way of his taking care of livestock, whether it was hours of tinkering with machinery or his hundreds of stories of helping an animal get back to health or staying up all night helping an animal deliver a newborn.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Dryer, and mother, Virginia Dryer. He is survived by his son, Charley Dryer and wife Amy, Hermitage, MO.; grandchildren, Brandon Herring and Alexus Corbus, Hermitage, MO., Haleigh Sterling and husband Dustin, Rockaway Beach, New York, Brady Herring and wife Sammy, Weaubleau, MO.; great-grandchildren, Ava Marie Bloom, Hermitage, MO., Kali Mae Herring, Hermitage, MO., Brinlee Ann Jackson, Weaubleau, MO., and Elara Maryn Sterling, Rockaway Beach, New York; his brothers, sisters, and many nephews, nieces, and friends.
Services will be Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Hathaway-Peterman Chapel with Bro. Tony Long officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Galmey V.F.W. Post #9638. Burial will be in Sumner Cemetery, north of Wheatland, under the direction of Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home, Wheatland, MO.
