Dollie Lucille Sawyer

Dollie Lucille Sawyer, 88, died May 2 at her Palmer home surrounded by her family. She was born in Canalou, Mo., March 16, 1921 the daughter of George E. and Flora Asher Volz. At an early age Dollie completed her education and began to help at home.

She married E.W. Sawyer on May 19, 1950 and together they raised seven children. In 1963, she moved to Alaska settling in Chugiak, then moving to the Montana Creek homestead where she remained from 1978 to 1996 and then settling in Palmer. Dollie worked hard raising and caring for her family. To make sure they were well-fed, Dollie gardened, raising vegetables and canning and freezing her produce. She always found time to quilt and sew.

Over the years, she was the nursery lady from 1963 until 1978 at the Birchwood Community Church, followed by the Montana Creek Baptist Church from 1978 until 1996. Where there were children, you would find Dollie. She loved and taught small children until she was no longer able. Dollie was “everybody’s Gramma.” She was known to say, “You can’t have too many Grammas” and “Just call me Gramma.”

Dollie Lucille Sawyer, is survived by her children, Willard Sawyer, Wasilla; Ronnie Sawyer, Palmer; Carol Ann Drechsler, Vancouver, Wash., Gary Sawyer, Wasilla; Ricky Sawyer, Chugiak; Kenny Sawyer, Anchorage and Larry Sawyer of Tacoma, Wash.; 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; brothers, Eura “Sonny” Volz and Calvin “Elson” Volz; sisters, Retha Morton, Loretta Wilson, Ollie Wanda Lee Riebold, Julaina “Jenny” Hargraves and Lavada Daniels all of Missouri.

Dollie was preceded in death by her husband; parents, George and Flora Volz; brothers, George Everett Volz, Eldon Frank Volz and Kenneth Donald Volz; sisters, Eulalie “Lalia” McCanless, Flora Dorothy and an infant sister.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Valley Baptist Tabernacle, 1600 N. Double B. St., Palmer with Nicholas Sawyer, officiant. Interment will follow at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to the church for a potluck reception after the interment.

Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer Resources of Alaska, 1750 Abbott Road, Anchorage, AK 99507 or Mat-Su Regional Homecare & Hospice, 950 E. Bogard Rd., Suite 132, Wasilla, AK 99654

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Valley Funeral Home.