Obituary for Mary Kay Sawyers Struthers - Mary Kay Sawyers, 79, of Struthers, died April 14, 2011 at the Hospice House. Mrs. Sawyers was born January 15, 1932 in Ashtabula, a daughter of the late Francis and Edna Johnson Farrell. She moved back to the Youngstown area in the late 1960's. She was a graduate of Ursuline High School. While living in Ashtabula, she owned and operated a diner near the dock. Mrs. Sawyers was an excellent seamstress and worked in several sewing facilities in the area including Plakie Baby Toys, National Mattress, and Paul's Custom Upholstery. She later worked and retired from Bank One, where she worked in the collections department. Her hobbies included writing poetry, taking pictures, quilting, spending time on her computer, collecting lighthouse figurines, and tending to her flower gardens. She also enjoyed watching sports and was an avid fan of the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians. An excellent cook and baker, she was known for her famous buckeyes and loved sharing them with family and friends. She leaves her six children, Chuck Farrell of Youngstown, Debbie Wade of Youngstown, Regina (Dan) Pagley of Hubbard, Doni Jo Sawyers of North Carolina, Dean (Darlene) Sawyers of Struthers, and Doug Sawyers of Struthers; five grandchildren, Erick and Shane Wade, Craig Daley, and Josh and Jarrod Sawyers; and several great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers, where family and friends will be received one hour prior to the service.

Mary Kay, my dearest online friend for the last 10 years, I will miss you, your cheery emails, your sharing and the wonderful e-cards you so thoughtfully send to me for every important event and occasion. You were a wonderful friend and I will remember you for the rest of my life. Rosalie Byrd I met Katy on rcf forum, she was a dear person who meant a lot to me. she wrote such beautiful poetry and prayed for me and my husband who has terminal cancer. a heart of gold and a faithful christian, and a dear friend. I will miss her love and sharing and her common sense. god bless her family at this time of loss. Sharon Schuldt She left the best of herself behind in her children, she will live on in their hearts, I would like to think she met up with Rhonda by now - I know they are in a better place, we will see them one day. My prayers are with you guys. Robin Carr Here are some fond memories we came up with as a family when talking with our pastor about things we would like him to share during her memorial service. One thing my son Jarrod enjoyed was watching football with his grandma. My husband Dean really loved the corn fritters she made when he was little. We all enjoyed her delicious wedding soup and the buckeyes she made every Christmas. (For those who don't know, buckeyes are peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate.) Despite the hard life she had lived, Mary Kay had a great sense of humor. When her daughter Doni Jo was in cosmetology school, Mary Kay allowed Doni Jo to color her hair. Her hair turned blue and the kids teased her that she was Mama Smurf. As a single mom raising six children, she had a hard time making ends meet, but she managed to treat her kids when she went to the grocery store every 2 weeks. Each child would get a bottle of Pepsi and a box of Cracker Jacks. Mary Kay was a wonderful mother-in-law to me. Always loving, never judgmental or interfering. I especially appreciated the e-mails she sent to me almost daily. She always sent something that would brighten my day. Also, I am grateful for the legacy she left behind in the form of her poems. Darlene Sawyers