Lee Robert Bayer
God’s Garden Must Be Beautiful God looked around the garden, and found an empty space. He looked down upon the earth, and saw your tired face. He put his arms around you, and lifted you to rest. God’s garden must be beautiful for He only takes the best. He knew that you were weary, and He knew you were in pain. He knew that you would never, be well on earth again. He saw the roads were getting rough, and the hills were hard to climb. So He closed your weary eyelids, and whispered peace be thine.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Lee Robert Bayer September 13, 1934 - March 6, 2017
Lee Robert Bayer September 13, 1934 - March 6, 2017
Lee Robert Bayer was born September 13, 1934, to Martin Charles Bayer and Melvina Mae Bayer in Jersey City, New Jersey. During the major portion of Martin’s career, he worked in banking, and Lee’s mother was the lead teletype operator at the Ford Motor Company in Teterboro, New Jersey. In his early years, Lee, his parents, and his younger brother Dick lived in Palisades Park, New Jersey, and the later years, Waldwick, New Jersey. After graduating from Leonia High School, he then attended Montclair State Teachers College and attained a Bachelors of Arts degree in English. A few years later, the Reverend Wilber DeRevere of the Wyckoff Reformed Church asked Lee to join their staff as youth director. This, unbeknownst to him, started him on his road into the ministry. About the same time, he was introduced to Carol Lehmann who, subsequently, was attracted to walk this walk with him. They were married May 28, 1960. Through the encouragement of Pastor DeRevere, Lee entered New Brunswick Theological Seminary. While on one of his summer assignments, Lee and Carol ministered on the reservation at Winnabego, NE. It was here that Lee and Carol welcomed Timothy, a native American youth to their family. In 1962, Lee received his Masters of Divinity Degree, and shortly after was ordained in the Reformed Church of America. During this time, they welcomed their second son Garrick. After serving two churches in New Jersey, in 1973 he accepted a position as the director of a youth outreach or-
ganization in Keene, New Hampshire. This position lead him to become a Personal Guidance Counselor at the local high school where he developed a program to help retain potential dropouts, training them both academically and in basic life skills. Although the program thrived, in 1980 Lee felt the desire to return to pastoral ministry and accepted a call to Mayflower Congregational Church of East Grand Rapids, Michigan as the Associate Pastor. And so the Bayers, now six in number with the births of Priscilla in 1964 and Jennifer in 1968, left the East coast and began their life as Midwesterners. Throughout these years in Grand Rapids, Lee ministered to a number of churches as both lead and interim pastor. Eventually, it was through his position as the Interim Pastor at Hudsonville Congregational Church that they moved to Hudsonville, Michigan. In the years to follow, he became the Associate Pastor at Woodhaven Reformed Church in Byron Center. There he became aware of the needs of many individuals and families in the community and how churches could partner together to more adequately address those needs. Lee was an idea person…a problem solver, and it was because of his enthusiasm and ability to get others excited to help that Byron Community Ministries was born. This began a season where he became strongly invested in the people and community of Byron Center. Lee described himself as, “a service-oriented, people person; an organizer and administrator with creative ideas and good communication skills.” It was here in this position that we saw him so fully live out his gifts and his compassion. Even in retirement, Lee desired to serve others in whatever way possible. And when not doing ministry, you could find Lee planning and enjoying large family gatherings, traveling with his wife, playing and tinkering with organs, tending his garden, spending time at the
beach, and walking his precious dog, Ruff.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Lee Robert Bayer September 13, 1934 - March 6, 2017
Lee Robert Bayer September 13, 1934 - March 6, 2017
Lee Robert Bayer was born September 13, 1934, to Martin Charles Bayer and Melvina Mae Bayer in Jersey City, New Jersey. During the major portion of Martin’s career, he worked in banking, and Lee’s mother was the lead teletype operator at the Ford Motor Company in Teterboro, New Jersey. In his early years, Lee, his parents, and his younger brother Dick lived in Palisades Park, New Jersey, and the later years, Waldwick, New Jersey. After graduating from Leonia High School, he then attended Montclair State Teachers College and attained a Bachelors of Arts degree in English. A few years later, the Reverend Wilber DeRevere of the Wyckoff Reformed Church asked Lee to join their staff as youth director. This, unbeknownst to him, started him on his road into the ministry. About the same time, he was introduced to Carol Lehmann who, subsequently, was attracted to walk this walk with him. They were married May 28, 1960. Through the encouragement of Pastor DeRevere, Lee entered New Brunswick Theological Seminary. While on one of his summer assignments, Lee and Carol ministered on the reservation at Winnabego, NE. It was here that Lee and Carol welcomed Timothy, a native American youth to their family. In 1962, Lee received his Masters of Divinity Degree, and shortly after was ordained in the Reformed Church of America. During this time, they welcomed their second son Garrick. After serving two churches in New Jersey, in 1973 he accepted a position as the director of a youth outreach or-
ganization in Keene, New Hampshire. This position lead him to become a Personal Guidance Counselor at the local high school where he developed a program to help retain potential dropouts, training them both academically and in basic life skills. Although the program thrived, in 1980 Lee felt the desire to return to pastoral ministry and accepted a call to Mayflower Congregational Church of East Grand Rapids, Michigan as the Associate Pastor. And so the Bayers, now six in number with the births of Priscilla in 1964 and Jennifer in 1968, left the East coast and began their life as Midwesterners. Throughout these years in Grand Rapids, Lee ministered to a number of churches as both lead and interim pastor. Eventually, it was through his position as the Interim Pastor at Hudsonville Congregational Church that they moved to Hudsonville, Michigan. In the years to follow, he became the Associate Pastor at Woodhaven Reformed Church in Byron Center. There he became aware of the needs of many individuals and families in the community and how churches could partner together to more adequately address those needs. Lee was an idea person…a problem solver, and it was because of his enthusiasm and ability to get others excited to help that Byron Community Ministries was born. This began a season where he became strongly invested in the people and community of Byron Center. Lee described himself as, “a service-oriented, people person; an organizer and administrator with creative ideas and good communication skills.” It was here in this position that we saw him so fully live out his gifts and his compassion. Even in retirement, Lee desired to serve others in whatever way possible. And when not doing ministry, you could find Lee planning and enjoying large family gatherings, traveling with his wife, playing and tinkering with organs, tending his garden, spending time at the
beach, and walking his precious dog, Ruff.
