Ms. Betsy Diane Sayre passed away Thursday, May 2, 2013, at her home in Caruthersville at the age of 65 years, 9 months and 2 days.
Diane was born July 31, 1947, in Cottonwood Point, Mo., to Tommy Lee Sayre and Betsy Ross Taylor Sayre.
Diane was a lifelong resident of the Bootheel area. She attended R-3 schools and was a 1965 graduate of Caruthersville High School. She then attended Arkansas State University, where she graduated with a bachelor of science and a master's degree in education. While completing her degrees, she also completed additional coursework to become certified in school administration. She was active while at Arkansas State in numerous student activities, including being elected president of Chi Omega Sorority.
Diane returned home to teach in 1970 and became known as the teacher who carried the baseball bat and did not mind swinging the paddle. She taught Special education for four years before becoming director of the first Pemiscot County Special School District. In 1977, Diane returned to the Caruthersville School District as principal of Southside Elementary School, where she served for nine years.
Diane achieved numerous accomplishments during her career and has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 1986, she was promoted to director of Elementary Education for the Caruthersville School District. The same year, she was elected mayor of Caruthersville for the first of a 23-year career as mayor, and that was after she had served eight years on the City Council. She was named the Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year in 1977 and Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2002 and 2006. She served as chairman of the Administrative Board for Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church for many years and was instrumental in the reopening of the Caruthersville Nursing Center. She worked tirelessly to help establish the Caruthersville Little Theater group, directing and producing several performances, and was later instrumental in the reorganization of the group into the Caruthersville Arts Council.
........
Diane is survived by her nieces, Tammie Sayre and Amy Sayre Bishop and her husband, Chad; her sister-in-law, Delila Swinger and her husband Terry; a great-niece, Jordan Babcock, daughter of Amy; A great-nephew, Taylor Sayre, son of Tammie; and a great-niece, Hannah Bishop, daughter of Chad, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
Preceding Diane in death were her parents, Tommy Lee and Betsy Ross Sayre; and a brother, Tommy Ross Sayre.
Visitation for Ms. Sayre was Friday, May 3, at the H.S. Smith Funeral Home in Caruthersville. Funeral services were Saturday, May 4, at Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Coffer officiating. Interment was in Maple Cemetery in Caruthersville.
Pallbearers for Diane were Baughn Merideth, Kevin Still, John Ferguson, Eddie Brooks, Rick Young, Keith Davis, Terry Rushing and Paul Shaw. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Maclin, John Clyde Thompson, Melvin Dowling, Jerry Bargery, Byron Luber and George Stadler.
H.S. Smith Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NOTE: Obituary was too long to put in it's entire format.
NOTE: GREAT-NEPHEW: Heath Ross Northcutt (Son of Amy Sayre Bishop)
Diane was born July 31, 1947, in Cottonwood Point, Mo., to Tommy Lee Sayre and Betsy Ross Taylor Sayre.
Diane was a lifelong resident of the Bootheel area. She attended R-3 schools and was a 1965 graduate of Caruthersville High School. She then attended Arkansas State University, where she graduated with a bachelor of science and a master's degree in education. While completing her degrees, she also completed additional coursework to become certified in school administration. She was active while at Arkansas State in numerous student activities, including being elected president of Chi Omega Sorority.
Diane returned home to teach in 1970 and became known as the teacher who carried the baseball bat and did not mind swinging the paddle. She taught Special education for four years before becoming director of the first Pemiscot County Special School District. In 1977, Diane returned to the Caruthersville School District as principal of Southside Elementary School, where she served for nine years.
Diane achieved numerous accomplishments during her career and has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 1986, she was promoted to director of Elementary Education for the Caruthersville School District. The same year, she was elected mayor of Caruthersville for the first of a 23-year career as mayor, and that was after she had served eight years on the City Council. She was named the Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year in 1977 and Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2002 and 2006. She served as chairman of the Administrative Board for Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church for many years and was instrumental in the reopening of the Caruthersville Nursing Center. She worked tirelessly to help establish the Caruthersville Little Theater group, directing and producing several performances, and was later instrumental in the reorganization of the group into the Caruthersville Arts Council.
........
Diane is survived by her nieces, Tammie Sayre and Amy Sayre Bishop and her husband, Chad; her sister-in-law, Delila Swinger and her husband Terry; a great-niece, Jordan Babcock, daughter of Amy; A great-nephew, Taylor Sayre, son of Tammie; and a great-niece, Hannah Bishop, daughter of Chad, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
Preceding Diane in death were her parents, Tommy Lee and Betsy Ross Sayre; and a brother, Tommy Ross Sayre.
Visitation for Ms. Sayre was Friday, May 3, at the H.S. Smith Funeral Home in Caruthersville. Funeral services were Saturday, May 4, at Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Coffer officiating. Interment was in Maple Cemetery in Caruthersville.
Pallbearers for Diane were Baughn Merideth, Kevin Still, John Ferguson, Eddie Brooks, Rick Young, Keith Davis, Terry Rushing and Paul Shaw. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Maclin, John Clyde Thompson, Melvin Dowling, Jerry Bargery, Byron Luber and George Stadler.
H.S. Smith Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NOTE: Obituary was too long to put in it's entire format.
NOTE: GREAT-NEPHEW: Heath Ross Northcutt (Son of Amy Sayre Bishop)
Ms. Betsy Diane Sayre passed away Thursday, May 2, 2013, at her home in Caruthersville at the age of 65 years, 9 months and 2 days.
Diane was born July 31, 1947, in Cottonwood Point, Mo., to Tommy Lee Sayre and Betsy Ross Taylor Sayre.
Diane was a lifelong resident of the Bootheel area. She attended R-3 schools and was a 1965 graduate of Caruthersville High School. She then attended Arkansas State University, where she graduated with a bachelor of science and a master's degree in education. While completing her degrees, she also completed additional coursework to become certified in school administration. She was active while at Arkansas State in numerous student activities, including being elected president of Chi Omega Sorority.
Diane returned home to teach in 1970 and became known as the teacher who carried the baseball bat and did not mind swinging the paddle. She taught Special education for four years before becoming director of the first Pemiscot County Special School District. In 1977, Diane returned to the Caruthersville School District as principal of Southside Elementary School, where she served for nine years.
Diane achieved numerous accomplishments during her career and has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 1986, she was promoted to director of Elementary Education for the Caruthersville School District. The same year, she was elected mayor of Caruthersville for the first of a 23-year career as mayor, and that was after she had served eight years on the City Council. She was named the Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year in 1977 and Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2002 and 2006. She served as chairman of the Administrative Board for Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church for many years and was instrumental in the reopening of the Caruthersville Nursing Center. She worked tirelessly to help establish the Caruthersville Little Theater group, directing and producing several performances, and was later instrumental in the reorganization of the group into the Caruthersville Arts Council.
........
Diane is survived by her nieces, Tammie Sayre and Amy Sayre Bishop and her husband, Chad; her sister-in-law, Delila Swinger and her husband Terry; a great-niece, Jordan Babcock, daughter of Amy; A great-nephew, Taylor Sayre, son of Tammie; and a great-niece, Hannah Bishop, daughter of Chad, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
Preceding Diane in death were her parents, Tommy Lee and Betsy Ross Sayre; and a brother, Tommy Ross Sayre.
Visitation for Ms. Sayre was Friday, May 3, at the H.S. Smith Funeral Home in Caruthersville. Funeral services were Saturday, May 4, at Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Coffer officiating. Interment was in Maple Cemetery in Caruthersville.
Pallbearers for Diane were Baughn Merideth, Kevin Still, John Ferguson, Eddie Brooks, Rick Young, Keith Davis, Terry Rushing and Paul Shaw. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Maclin, John Clyde Thompson, Melvin Dowling, Jerry Bargery, Byron Luber and George Stadler.
H.S. Smith Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NOTE: Obituary was too long to put in it's entire format.
NOTE: GREAT-NEPHEW: Heath Ross Northcutt (Son of Amy Sayre Bishop)
Diane was born July 31, 1947, in Cottonwood Point, Mo., to Tommy Lee Sayre and Betsy Ross Taylor Sayre.
Diane was a lifelong resident of the Bootheel area. She attended R-3 schools and was a 1965 graduate of Caruthersville High School. She then attended Arkansas State University, where she graduated with a bachelor of science and a master's degree in education. While completing her degrees, she also completed additional coursework to become certified in school administration. She was active while at Arkansas State in numerous student activities, including being elected president of Chi Omega Sorority.
Diane returned home to teach in 1970 and became known as the teacher who carried the baseball bat and did not mind swinging the paddle. She taught Special education for four years before becoming director of the first Pemiscot County Special School District. In 1977, Diane returned to the Caruthersville School District as principal of Southside Elementary School, where she served for nine years.
Diane achieved numerous accomplishments during her career and has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 1986, she was promoted to director of Elementary Education for the Caruthersville School District. The same year, she was elected mayor of Caruthersville for the first of a 23-year career as mayor, and that was after she had served eight years on the City Council. She was named the Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year in 1977 and Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 2002 and 2006. She served as chairman of the Administrative Board for Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church for many years and was instrumental in the reopening of the Caruthersville Nursing Center. She worked tirelessly to help establish the Caruthersville Little Theater group, directing and producing several performances, and was later instrumental in the reorganization of the group into the Caruthersville Arts Council.
........
Diane is survived by her nieces, Tammie Sayre and Amy Sayre Bishop and her husband, Chad; her sister-in-law, Delila Swinger and her husband Terry; a great-niece, Jordan Babcock, daughter of Amy; A great-nephew, Taylor Sayre, son of Tammie; and a great-niece, Hannah Bishop, daughter of Chad, as well as numerous other relatives and friends.
Preceding Diane in death were her parents, Tommy Lee and Betsy Ross Sayre; and a brother, Tommy Ross Sayre.
Visitation for Ms. Sayre was Friday, May 3, at the H.S. Smith Funeral Home in Caruthersville. Funeral services were Saturday, May 4, at Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jim Coffer officiating. Interment was in Maple Cemetery in Caruthersville.
Pallbearers for Diane were Baughn Merideth, Kevin Still, John Ferguson, Eddie Brooks, Rick Young, Keith Davis, Terry Rushing and Paul Shaw. Honorary pallbearers were Paul Maclin, John Clyde Thompson, Melvin Dowling, Jerry Bargery, Byron Luber and George Stadler.
H.S. Smith Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - Wednesday, May 8, 2013
NOTE: Obituary was too long to put in it's entire format.
NOTE: GREAT-NEPHEW: Heath Ross Northcutt (Son of Amy Sayre Bishop)
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