Biography:
James Trester Dyke, of Little Rock, Ark., and Palm Beach, Fla., died at home on October 11, 2021. He was born on June 4, 1937, in Ft. Smith, Ark., to the late Francis W. and Virginia Dyke.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Helen Lanier Porter; and his children, Merritt Dyke and his wife, Anne, of Little Rock and Atlanta; Robert Finch of Santa Fe, N.M.; Jim Dyke, Jr. and his wife, Dawn, of Charleston, S. C.; Jonathan Dyke and his wife Susan, of Nashville, Tenn., and Simmons Kirkpatrick of Romance, Ark. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nicholas Dyke of Oxford, Mississippi, Emily Dyke of Boulder, Colo., Lanie Dyke of Nashville, Trester Dyke of Charleston, Olivia Bynum of Dallas, Texas, Brooks Bynum of Austin, and Barrett Bynum of Ft. Worth. He was preceded in death by his son, Gregory Dyke; and his grandson, Michael Kirkpatrick.
Jim attended Culver Military Academy, received an undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and a law degree from Yale.
He was Chairman of Dyke Industries, President and Chairman of the Board of Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, and on the advisory board of the National Gallery of Art. Jim cherished the time he spent with his family and his friends, especially his fellow members of XV. He was passionate about the arts and an avid duck hunter.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Little Rock, Arkansas. I can be viewed remotely by clicking the link at TrinityLittleRock.org
When he moved to Little Rock, and I to Texas, our paths seldom crossed again, though we stayed in contact throughout our lives.
During high school Jim and I gave parties together, at my parents home in Fort Smith, and Mr. and Mrs. Dyke were always present to chaperone also.
I will miss him He was special.
Randy