SALISBURY – Willene Kesler Lyerly, 79, of Salisbury, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, at Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks.

Born Nov. 14, 1927, in Forsyth County, Mrs. Lyerly was a daughter of the late Daisy Bame Kesler and William Brent Kesler. Educated in Winston-Salem schools, Appalachian State University and Baptist Hospital School of Nursing, early in life she was a registered nurse with Baptist Hospital. She and her husband later founded Lyerly Funeral Home.

A member of Haven Lutheran Church, Mrs. Lyerly was also a member of WELCA of the church, the Minnie Phillips Circle, the Salisbury Chapter of Eastern Star, the Altrusa Club and the Lambda Master Chapter Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

Preceding her in death were her husband, James C. Lyerly, and a sister, Bonnie Kesler Price.

Surviving are son John Brent Lyerly and wife Patti of Salisbury; daughter Bonnie Katherine “Kathy” Davis and husband Jimmy of Greensboro; brother Timothy Brent Kesler and wife Rita of Raleigh; special sister-in-law and caregiver Katherine Elizabeth Lyerly of Salisbury; and granddaughters Laura Katherine Davis and Leigh Rebekah Davis of Greensboro.

Service: 11 a.m. Thursday at Lyerly Funeral Home’s James C. Lyerly Chapel with the Rev. Jim Vickrey, funeral home chaplain, the Rev. Lori Hefner, Hospice chaplain, and the Rev. Dr. Marcus Hovis, pastor of Haven Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Christiana Lutheran Church cemetery conducted by the Rev. Carl M. Haynes, church pastor.

Visitation: 7-8:30 tonight at Lyerly Funeral Home.

Memorials: Memorials may be made to Haven Lutheran Church, 207 W. Harrison St., Salisbury, NC 28144; or Rowan Regional Home Health & Hospice, Attn: Hospice House Project, 825-A W. Henderson St., Salisbury, NC 28144.