Elizabeth Sawyer Obituary

Elizabeth "Betty" Teresa Sawyer MT. PLEASANT - Elizabeth Teresa (Doherty) Sawyer, 90, a longtime resident of Snee Farm, Mt. Pleasant, passed away peacefully on September 11, at the Sweetgrass Court Memory Care Retirement Community. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on September 16, 2013 at Christ Our King Church, 1149 Russell Drive, Mt Pleasant, SC at 10 am. Burial will be private. The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 15, 2013 in J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road, Mt Pleasant, from 4:00 until 6:00 pm. The youngest of 8 children, Elizabeth (Betty) Doherty was born in Clonmany, Ireland on October 26, 1922 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1947. She married Burnley (Tom) Sawyer at St. Paul's Catholic Church on November 13, 1948 in Portsmouth, VA. They would have been married for 65 years. In addition to Mt. Pleasant, Betty and Tom resided in Portsmouth, Virginia, Banbury, England and Guam, Mariana Islands. In her earlier years, Betty worked with the American Red Cross at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Nimitz Hill, Guam for 8 years during the Vietnam War. She also volunteered at the Crisis Ministries soup kitchen for many years in Charleston. She was extremely active as an avid golfer, runner/walker and cyclist. At 59 she participated in, and won, the Cooper River Bridge Run for her age group, 50-60. She had a handicap of 7 and could boast the accomplishment of 3 hole-in-ones in her lifetime. She won many golf tournaments, including the Lady Captain Cup in Oxfordshire, England. She was a devout Catholic and member of Christ Our King parish in Mt. Pleasant for many years. Betty was immensely social, had a brogue you could cut a knife with and a magnetic and charming personality. She was dearly loved by her family and friends and will be sorely missed by all. In addition to her husband, Betty is survived by her children Sharron Sawyer of Boston, MA, Neil P. and wife Louise Sawyer of the Isle of Palms, SC and her grandchildren William and Coleman Sawyer and many nieces and nephews in the U.S. and Europe. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston