Merchant “Smokey” Leroy Hyler, 73, of 119 S. Edgewood Rd, passed away at Morehead Nursing Center on Saturday, July 29, 2017.  

A funeral service will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at Osborne Baptist Church.  Interment will follow the service in Dan View Cemetery with Military Honors provided by U.S. Marine Corps and The Rockingham County Veterans Honor Guard.  The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6-8 pm at Osborne Baptist Church and other times at the residence.

Mr. Hyler was born in Pittsylvania County, VA on January 17, 1944 to the late Martin Wesley and Gaetrel Barber Hyler.  Merchant retired from the Eden Police Department with 30 years of service and from Rockingham Community College as a firearms instructor.  He was a member of American Legion Post #254, a charter member of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 5, Rockingham County Marine Corps League, Pfc Jerry L. McKinney Detachment 1232 and a member of Hickory Grove United Methodist Church.  The City of Eden dedicated the “Lt. M.L. “Smokey” Hyler Firearms  Training Facility” in his honor. 

Mr. Hyler is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Gloria Underwood Hyler; daughter, Jennifer Hyler Shelton and husband, Neil; grandsons, Tyler Shelton and fiancé Ashley Bray, and Taylor Shelton and wife, Katie Moore Shelton; brothers, M.L. Hyler and Ricky Hyler; father-in-law, George Underwood, Sr.; brothers-in-law, Berkley Corbin and Tommy Underwood I and wife, Vicki; several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Joyce Corbin, mother-in-law, Eva Underwood and brother-in-law, George Underwood, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Hyler to Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 5; 308 B. E. Stadium Drive, Eden, NC  27288, Hospice of Rockingham County; P.O. Box 281 Wentworth, NC 27375 , Dan View Cemetery Maintenance Association, P.O. Box 594 Eden, NC  27289 or the Eden Rescue Squad, 106 Mabel St. Eden, NC 27288.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com