Sawyers, Helen Doyle

Helen Doyle Sawyers, 85, of Christiansburg, died on Sunday, March 10, 2013, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke. Helen was born to the late Frank Doyle and Ocie Doyle in Ellett, on June 5, 1927. She was the devoted wife of Claude K. Sawyers for 64 years before his death in 2008. She is survived by a son, Roger Kenneth Sawyer and wife, Martha, of Christiansburg; a daughter, Sue Sawyers Merrill and husband, Henry, of Easley, S.C.; grandsons, Christopher Merrill, of Los Angeles, Calif., and Timothy Merrill, of Easley, S.C.; granddaughters, Deborah Sawyer, of Salem, Va., Elizabeth Sawyer Graham and husband, Greg, of Atlanta, Ga., Suzanne Sawyer, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Melissa Merrill Shelton and husband, Matt, of Atlanta, Ga.; great-grandsons, Max Clendenon, of Salem, Va., and John Graham, of Atlanta, Ga.; great-granddaughters, Taylor Clendenon and partner, John Doster, Phoebe Graham, and Olivia Graham, all three of Atlanta, Ga., Natalie Woods, of Lancaster, S.C., and Katie Merrill, of Pickens, S.C.; a great-great-grandson, Everette Doster, of Atlanta, Ga.; a sister, Willie Doyle (Biddie) Wheeling, of Shawsville, Va.; a brother-in-law, Harvey Shelburne, of Radford; special nieces and nephews; and wonderful friends and neighbors. Helen was a member of a large and loving family and had a special relationship with each sibling. She spoke often of happy memories throughout her life. Helen was a member of Grace Community Church in Salem where she served and developed many wonderful relationships. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Conaster for his years of care and to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Carilion New River Valley Medical Center and Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for the wonderful care given during this recent illness. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at Horne Funeral Home. A Graveside Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, at North Fork Cemetery in Ellett, conducted by the Rev. Mike Kinzie. There will be a reception in the North Fork Baptist Church Fellowship Hall following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Christiansburg Rescue Squad, 10 East Main Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073 or to Grace Community Church, 2634 West Main Street, Salem, VA 24153. Online condolences may be left by visiting www.hornefuneralservice.com.