Obituary

Carolyn Elaine Sawyer Obituary

Carolyn Elaine Sawyer of Raytown, Missouri, age 78, was called home to be with the Lord and her heavenly family on Sunday, November 22, 2020.

Carolyn was born in Illinois, on November 24, 1941 to Earl A. and Eunice M. (Barber) Keopke. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Joan Perry Keopke, sister Patricia Ann Adams, brother Earl Arthella Keopke, brother Ronald Harry Keopke, half-sister Nancy Jane Dunn and granddaughter Amy Lee Smith.

In 1960, on March 16th, Carolyn married Calvin E. Sawyer, the love of her life. With this union, they embarked on what would become a shared lifetime of 60 years together. With Calvin, they raised three daughters, enjoyed grandchildren and great-grandchildren together.

Carolyn was a dedicated and loving wife, mother and grandmother. For much of her life she enjoyed being a homemaker, creating a comfortable, loving and welcoming home for family and friends. She loved and cared for her family with an open and giving heart.

She had a talent for growing and tending her many colorful flower beds. Carolyn loved raising canons, irises, marigolds, tulips and many varieties of houseplants. She would always insist upon sharing her overflowing bounties with her family, encouraging them to take bouquets with them to enjoy.

Just before Carolyn and Calvin’s retirement, Carolyn worked at Children’s World daycare center, where she was known as “Miss Carolyn.” It’s there she would assume the perfect role as caregiver and teacher to infants and toddlers, which she enjoyed and loved.

At age 76, Carolyn became a cancer survivor and family hero, overcoming her diagnosis in 2019.

Carolyn was good-natured and enjoyed people. While on her outings, she spread joy with friendly conversation with the local store clerks, cashiers and even strangers, making friends wherever she would go.

Her granddaughter, Dayna, best describes her grandma:

“She was full of humor, a quick wit, always fun to be around, opinionated, sarcastic, spunky, and loved to talk your ear off about anything and everything. She was a storyteller. A true Sagittarius, and she loved to tell you so! She loved people and animals as much as her flashy bling and flare! She was caring, loving, selfless and sweet. She loved all of her family. She enjoyed her action packed movies–the “bang them up, shoot them up”, a clean car, country music, planting her annual flowers, ‘going to town’ for thrift store shopping, and talking about this and that.

“I’ll never forget when I told her randomly one day… ‘Grandma…I love you,’ and she looked at me and said, ‘Oh sweetheart… I love blue too!’ She was hard of hearing at the time and blue was her favorite color!”

Memories, stories of laughter and love will always be in our hearts.

Carolyn is survived by her husband Calvin E. Sawyer of Raytown, MO; daughter Linda S. Smith of Raytown, MO; daughter Pamela L. and (spouse) Carl H. Lawson of Lee’s Summit, MO; daughter Theresa A. and (spouse) Terry Hylton of Lee’s Summit, MO; granddaughter Dayna Smith and (partner) Christan Manuel of Raytown, MO; grandson Christopher Smith of Raytown, MO; granddaughter Ashley and (spouse) Jacob Van Rie of Blue Springs, MO; grandson Noah and (spouse) Alexys Hylton of Belton, MO; and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral and memorial services will be held on Sat, Nov. 28, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW 3rd, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063. Burial and graveside services will follow at Longview Memorial Gardens, 12700 SE Raytown Rd, Kansas City, MO 64149.