Melvin Clark Dyer

Melvin Clark “Mel” Dyer Sr., 86, of Humboldt, IL passed away at 11:01 PM on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at the Edwards Funeral Home, 221 East Main St., Arcola, IL. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM, following visitation, at the funeral home. There will be a fellowship meal for family and friends at the Humboldt Town Hall following all of the services on Saturday.

Mel was born on January 16, 1940 in Litchfield, IL. He was a son of Clifton Hannibal and Lola B. (Jackson) Dyer. He married Bessie Jean Seago on February 15, 1968 in Litchfield, IL.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie of Humboldt, IL, three sons, Melvin Clark Dyer Jr., Hanibal Clayton Dyer and his wife Krystal, and Harlan Waymore Dyer and his wife Diane ‘DJ” all of Humboldt, IL, 13 grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, two brothers, Russell Dyer and his wife Eva of Hillsboro, IL, and Roger Dyer and his wife Sonja of Kiefer, OK, and two sisters, Wanda Allen and her husband Jack of Warsaw, MO, and Carla Dawdy and her husband Troy of Hillsboro, IL.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Cynthia Burch, three brothers, Terry Dyer, Tony Dyer, and Stanley Dyer, and three sisters, Nellie Crabtree, Joann Hollers, and Lovia Cowgill.

Mel was a legend. He was born in Illinois and raised in Tennessee. He moved back to Illinois in his later teens after a brief stay in Florida. He impacted the life of everyone he met. He moved all around the state of Illinois, had his eldest son in Ohio, and settled in Coles County in the 1980s with his beloved wife Bessie and kids. He finally landed in Humboldt, IL, a place that he loved. Mel owned his own trash service for eight years. He worked and retired from Effingham Clay Elevator in Humboldt after10 years. He had many construction, carpentry, millwright, and painting jobs throughout his journey as well. He even coined the term locally know as “Melvin Red” for his love of painting everything he owned Melvin Red. Hard work was something that he enjoyed doing. He made work not so much like “work” for anyone around him due to his sense of humor.

Mel enjoyed coon hunting, raising livestock, gardening, country music, and drinking a warm Budweiser. He loved spending time with his kids and grandkids. To many, he is known as Grandad. He was very fond of his grandkids as were they of him. He has a son, grandson, and great grandson, all named after him. The legend lives on.