Patricia (Pat, Pasty) (Lyman) Sawyer

On March 5, 2023, Patricia passed away after a three year battle with cancer while being attended by family and friends in her home in Winston-Salem, NC. Pat was 81 years old.

Patricia Sawyer was born in Burlington, Vermont on April 16, 1941.  She was the first child, and the first daughter of Hattie Sisters and Charles Fuller Lyman, Sr.

Growing up in Vermont, she enjoyed visiting her grandparent’s dairy farm in Ferrisburg. One of the highlights of her life was being on the JV & Varsity Cheer Squads AND playing trumpet in the marching band at Burlington High School. After high school, Pat attended Champlain College for a business degree and met her husband, Donald Sawyer. She worked for General Electric in Burlington for many years as a secretary.  Their first child, Christina, was born in August of 1962 and their son Erik, was born in May of 1965.

About 1992, Pat and Don decided to build a house in Ferrisburg, Vermont. They rented an apartment and spent 5 years building their dream house.  Pat worked at IDX and commuted into Burlington each day until her retirement.

Wanting to be closer to grandchildren, Don and Pat decided to sell their house and move to NC.  They loved the more moderate climate, especially the beach, where they put a park model RV in Holly Ridge, NC (near Topsail Beach).  They had many family gatherings there and shared the beautiful getaway with friends and family.

After Don’s death in 2020, Pat moved back to Winston-Salem to live with her daughter and rejoin her friends and family at Sharon Methodist Church in Lewisville, NC. Pat and Don were very active there over the years. Pat prepared the church bulletin each week, sang in the choir and was a faithful member of the United Methodist Women’s group.

Patricia was preceded in death by: her husband Donald Charles Sawyer, her sister-in-law Gloria Williams and her parents Hattie Sisters and Charles Fuller Lyman Sr.  

Patricia is survived by: her brothers Roger (Louisa) Lyman of Salem, SC, and Chuck (Connie) Lyman, Jr.of Wilmington, NC, her sister Debbie (Ben) Bancroft of Owasso, OK, her daughter Christina Ann Sawyer of Winston-Salem, NC, her son Erik (Pam) Vincent Sawyer of Loveland, CO, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service in honor of Patricia will be held at Sharon United Methodist Church, 5330 Sharon Church Rd, Lewisville, NC 27023 on March 18, 2023 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall. Her ashes will be laid to rest with those of her husband and their dog Lily at the Columbarium at Sharon UMC Graveyard.

Donations may be sent to United Methodist Women of Sharon UMC Church to aid their global mission outreach.

Special Thanks Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the many exemplary doctors, nurses and health care workers who treated and counseled her through her illness. Very special thanks to Rebecca McKinney, P. A who was alway so kind, interested and prompt in her medical care and responsiveness to questions.

Carolina Cremation Center is respectfully serving the family.