Florence Sawby

Palmer resident Florence Sawby, 94, died unexpectedly March 31 in Buckley, Wash., while on her way to dinner with family members. She was returning to Alaska after a winter sun break in Arizona.

A memorial service will be held at Moose Lodge, 793 S. Cobb Street in Palmer on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Florence was born Aug. 2, 1914 to Leonard and Laura (Campbell) Seville near Pueblo, Colo. She was one of 10 children. Her family moved to Canada and then to Montana where she spent most of her early years. She graduated from Kalispell High School and from Kenman Business College in Spokane, Wash.

She married Irving Sawby on Nov. 6, 1937 in Butte, Mont. They were parents of two daughters, moving to Wasilla in 1948 so Irving, a civil engineer, could build roads. In 1953, the family relocated to Palmer after purchasing an original colonist farm.

Florence began her career after her children were teenagers. She worked at Valley Hospital, the Co-op, D&A Grocery, Bert’s Drug Store and retired from the Teamster’s Union.

Florence loved to participate in community activities. She served as president of the PTA in Wasilla and was a 4-H leader when her daughters were young. She belonged to the Women of the Moose, Pioneers and VFW Auxiliary. She also ran the concession stand for the Mat-Su Miners for three years and helped house ball players for many years. For more than 10 years she was in charge of the flower entry department for the Alaska State Fair. Florence had a green thumb and raised large vegetable and flower gardens (at one time she was even on the bus tour for tourists).

Her children will remember her strong love of family, dry sense of humor and independent spirit. She was a “best buddy” to her grandson. She did not complain about hardships but rather made the best of whatever came her way. She continued to play pinochle, work crosswords puzzles, embroider and do crafts until her death.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Irving Sawby and son-in-law, Jerry Goode.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Charmaine and Rich Mastriano of Palmer with whom she resided for the last seven years; her oldest daughter, Ann Goode of Anchorage; her only grandson, Bryan Goode and his wife Tara of Washington; her brothers, Fred (Dawn) of Homer and Pete Seville of Seldovia; her sisters, Edna Ridenour and Faith Newman of Montana and more than 150 nieces and nephews scattered throughout the United States.