Nancy Joe Dyer

Dr. Nancy Joe Dyer, 80, of Navasota, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 5th,
surrounded by family. Nancy Joe was born on April 15th, 1942 in Navasota, Texas to Onis and
Josephine (Greenwood) Dyer. A lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Navasota,
where she served as an elder and Sunday School teacher for many years, Nancy Joe’s faith
remained central to her throughout her life. She was a professor, a scholar, and a mentor who
positively impacted countless people during her rich life.
Nancy Joe was a vivacious woman who enjoyed gourmet cooking and gardening. She loved
music and dancing, and in her youth worked as the pianist and organist for the First
Presbyterian Church of Juarez, Mexico. Many hours of her final months were spent listening to
hymns. She was a voracious traveler who journeyed the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in
Spain 12 times and lectured all over the world on her areas of expertise. She was also an
active member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and proud of her status as a 6th
generation Texan.
Nancy Joe had a lifelong love of the pursuit of knowledge. After graduating from El Paso High
School in 1960, she attended Texas Tech University where she majored in Spanish and English
and graduated in the class of 1964. She then earned her Master’s in Spanish, Romance
Philology and Linguistics from Tulane University in 1968. In 1975, she completed her PhD in
Spanish, Romance Philology and Linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania.
While at Texas Tech, Nancy Joe was an active member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity. She loved her
sorority and remained involved throughout her life, serving on the Alumni Advisory Committee at
Texas A&M University and as academic adviser to the active members for many years.
Nancy Joe was a professor at Texas A&M University from 1977 until her retirement in 2010.
She was awarded a Distinguished Achievement in Teaching award in 1994. During her tenure
at Texas A&M, she also served as the Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts for 5 years.
She is the author of dozens of publications including the 1995 book, El Mio Cid en el taller
alfonsí, considered a seminal work on the topic. During her career, she also taught at UCLA,
The University of Texas, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Houston Victoria
Center.
Nancy Joe was married to Steven Murray Hodge on June 18, 1977 at the First Presbyterian
Church of Navasota and they remained happily married. They raised two daughters together
and delighted in their grandchildren. Nancy Joe and Steve lived a rich life together, and in
retirement continued their adventures by volunteering annually as “stagehands” at Austin’s
South by Southwest music festival, as well as traveling and backpacking around the world.
She is survived by her loving husband Steven Hodge; her daughters Josephine Schweiloch
(Harrison) and Mary Priscilla Garcia (Chris); her grandchildren Isaac Garcia, Gideon Garcia,
Louella Schweiloch, and Zadie Schweiloch; and her sister Priscilla Jane Otto (Donald).
She was preceded in death by her mother Josephine Greenwood Dyer, her father Onis Elbert
Dyer, and her granddaughter Eleanor Jane Schweiloch.
Visitation with family and friends will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 pm, Wednesday, July 5th at
Nobles Funeral Chapel. A celebration of her life will begin at 11:00 am, Thursday, July 7th, also
at the funeral home, with interment following in Oakland Cemetery. Rev. Matt Morse will
officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Nobles Funeral Chapel.
If desired, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in her memory to First
Presbyterian Church, Navasota, Texas.
You are invited to leave kind words and fond memories at www.noblesfuneral.com