Dr. Wayne Dyess, 65, of Nederland, died Wednesday, February 27, 2013, at The Medical Center of Southeast Texas, Port Arthur. He was born on November 27, 1947, in Mineola, to Bessie and Jim Dyess, and had been a resident of the area since 1975.
Wayne was a veteran of the United States Navy. He graduated with a bachelor of music from Stephen F. Austin State in Nacogdoches, later was selected as music alumnus, and inducted into the School of Music Wall of Honor in 1990. Wayne earned his master of music from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and doctor of education from the University of Houston, having also completed graduate work at the University of Texas at Austin. He was employed as director of jazz studies and professor of trombone with Lamar University, Beaumont. Wayne had been a member of the Lamar faculty since 1977 when he became assistant director of bands to now-President Jimmy Simmons. He was also the principal trombonist with the Symphony of Southeast Texas and performed regularly throughout the United States and internationally with several groups, including Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band and the Brass Band of Battle Creek (Michigan). From 1971 to 1975, Wayne was trombone soloist and section leader of the “World’s Finest” United States Navy Band. He led his own eight-piece band as well as an eighteen-piece rehearsal dance band. Since the inception of the Lamarissimo! Concert Series in 1990. Dyess has conducted Lamar jazz bands attracting such notable guest artists as pianist, Shelly Berg; arranger-bandleader, Marion Evans; musician-conductor-composer, Bill Holman; trombonist, Dave Steinmeyer; trumpeters, Bobby Shew; Dennis Dotson; and Walter White; and Grammy-winning composer and saxophonist, Don Rollins; a Lamar alumnus, among others. Wayne was the force behind the Night & Day Orchestra.
Surviving Wayne are his loving wife, Lynda Dyess; son, Christopher Dyess; and daughter, Kimberly Dyess, all of Nederland; grandchildren, Kane Dyess, Theory Dyess and Milli Dyess; and sister, Linda Parker and her husband, John, of Pittsburg, Texas.
He is preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Angela Dyess.
A gathering of Mr. Dyess’ family and friends will be from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Sunday, March 3, 2013, at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 3324 Park Drive, Nederland. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 4, 2013, at Hillcrest Baptist Church, with interment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches, under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland.
