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The Reporter October 2016
IN MEMORIAM E. Otis Dyer Jr.
Thomas “Tom” J. Mello, Sr.
Rehoboth – E. Otis Dyer Jr., 56, passed away unexpectedly early Sunday morning on September 25, 2016. A lifelong resident of Fairview Avenue, Rehoboth, he was the son of E. Otis Dyer, Sr. and Jean (Palmer) Dyer and a direct descendent of the founders of Rehoboth and Truro, and of the Pilgrim fathers. Otis grew up and lived all his life on his family’s 200-year-old ancestral farm on Fairview Avenue. He attended local schools E. Otis Dyer Jr. and graduated from Dighton-Rehoboth Regional H.S. in 1978 and the University of Maine in 1982 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He was employed as an assistant engineer in the City of Attleboro’s Engineering Department, a land surveyor for Hayward Boynton and Williams Inc. in Taunton MA, and, for many years, as a Massachusetts Registered Land Surveyor in the surveying office of E. Otis Dyer Sr. in Rehoboth. Otis enjoyed farming: caring for a herd of cows, a flock of hens, and raising the hay and grain for them on his family’s farm. He enjoyed studying and researching local history. He was a trustee and past Vice President of the Rehoboth Antiquarian Society, a strong supporter and volunteer of the Carpenter Museum, and a member of the Rehoboth Historical Commission for many years, serving as its Chairman several times. He researched and wrote many articles on Rehoboth’s history for the Antiquarian Society Newsletter. He was an expert on deciphering the Rehoboth Proprietor records, the original documents from the 1600s and early 1700s that divided up the land in Rehoboth. He served as Co-chairman of Rehoboth’s 350th Celebration in 1993. Besides his parents, Otis leaves two sisters, Betsey Dexter Dyer (Bob Obar) of Walpole MA and Lydia Dyer Carswell (Larry Carswell) of Rehoboth, as well as a brother, Nathaniel Paine Dyer (Lisa-Marie) of Rehoboth, and six nephews and nieces: Daniel Carswell of Providence RI, James Carswell of Rehoboth, Alice Obar of Brooklyn, NY, Samuel Obar of Walpole MA, and Caleb Dyer and Tatum Dyer, both of Rehoboth. Funeral arrangements will be made with Foley-Cook-Hathaway Funeral Home in Attleboro MA. Funeral and burial will be private and interment will be in the family’s lot in the Stevens Corner Cemetery in Rehoboth. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Carpenter Museum, P.O. Box 2, Rehoboth MA 02769 will be appreciated.
Rehoboth – Thomas “Tom” J. Mello, Sr., 69, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 17, 2016. He was the beloved husband of Judith “Judy” (Mitchell) Mello. Together they would have celebrated their 45th anniversary on October 2nd. A lifelong resident of Homestead Ave., Rehoboth, he was a son of the late Manuel and Georgianna (Rocha) Mello. Tom grew up working on his parent’s dairy farm and later served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard. He then attended the University of Maine, Thomas “Tom” J. Mello, Sr. Farrier School and served his apprenticeship under James Mitchell of Johnston, RI. Throughout his life, Tom shoed horses at many of the New England area racetracks and most recently at Plainridge Park, where he worked as the farrier for the past several years. Tom’s true passion in life was farming; he enjoyed raising horses, pigs, goats and poultry. Together with his wife Judy and their sons, they owned and operated Rainbow Turkey Farm on Homestead Ave., Rehoboth. Tom also loved spending time with his family, friends and “Cronies”, attending auctions and stopping in at the many area farms and diners. He had a magnetic personality and was always the life of the party, he was a free spirit who was not worried what anyone thought. Tom always demonstrated this at the many family reunions, weddings and get-togethers, by taking over the mic and leading the “Marine March” for his family and friends. He will be fondly remembered for his many, many catch phrases, light hearted and easy going ways. Besides his beloved wife, Tom leaves two sons: Thomas “TJ” J. Mello, Jr. and his wife, Crystal of Rehoboth, Gregory N. Mello and his wife, Kara of North Dighton; five grandchildren, Mason, Gage, Reid, Carly and Mary-Kate Mello; five brothers, Dr. Richard Mello, Manuel Mello and James Mello all of Rehoboth, Raymond Mello of Greensburg, PA and Peter Mello of Cincinnati, OH; a sister, Sr. Carole V.M. Mello, Dominican Sister of the Presentation of Fall River; many nieces, nephews and friends. His funeral was held Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 9 a.m. from WILLIAM W. TRIPP Funeral Home, 1008 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Coyle Dr., Seekonk. Interment followed at Oak Knoll Cemetery, Rehoboth. VISITATION was Friday, September 23, 2016 from 3 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, NY, NY 10004 will be appreciated. TRIPPFUNERALHOME.com
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