Clarice Van Name Sawyer

Clarice Van Name Sawyer

August 11, 1937 - November 11, 2019

Clarice Van Name Sawyer ""Curley"" passed away on November 11, 2019 at the age of 82 after an awe inspiring battle with Leukemia.

Curley was born in Pueblo, Colorado to George and Thelma Van Name. She spent the first three years of her life there before starting on her adventure through her young years living in Mobile AL, Portland OR and South Orange NJ as her father moved with SH Kress & Company. They moved to Denver in 1948 as she started 6^th grade living in the Park Hill neighborhood. Childhood summers were spent counting birds and learning to fish at the family cabin at Warm Lake in Idaho. As an East High School ""Angel"" she graduated in 1955 continuing on to the University of Colorado, Boulder, graduating in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

Before children, Curley enjoyed her time as an elementary school teacher. Proper grammar, cursive handwriting and art classes of tree drawings filled her lesson plans. Her love of flowers, birds, butterflies, bells, holiday decorations, sunrises and sunsets, waterfalls, sea shells, and ocean waves followed her through life. Curley was ever faithful in her love and devotion to God and the Church. Her belief in prayer and the Lord's Prayer in particular was a strong ritual which she handed down to her children and grandchildren.

Curley married Dr. Robert ""Bob"" Sawyer in 1984. They were two peas in a pod. During their 34 years of devoted marriage, they did everything together. Bob's passing in December of 2018 created a void in Curley's life that makes their spiritual reunion a blessing now. Whether it was church, travel, theatre and music, golf, collecting art, quiet time on their cabin deck watching the fox and the birds, or even running their daily errands together, they did it side by side as if they were one. They loved having family near and together for birthdays, holidays, or any and all other causes for celebration.

Bridge, healthy cooking, puzzles, train rides, and playing the piano were just a few of her favorite past times. She was a member of the Denver Country Club, Colorado Arlberg Club, The Tuesday Morning Class and Pi Phi Sorority. Cheering for the Denver Broncos or CU Buffs wearing the team colors and raising money for the American Heart Association were passions.

Jennie Coulthurst (Tom) and Kellie Strawbridge, her two daughters from her first marriage to J. Richard ""Dick"" Allen along with Kellie's two children Lucy and Henry Strawbridge survive her as do Nancy Van Name Packard (wife of older brother Dick Van Name) and nieces Wendy Peterson and Susan Jacobs (Tim) and their two daughters. Bob Sawyer's children Bob Sawyer, Jr., Pat Sawyer, John Sawyer, Mary Sawyer, Joe Sawyer and Mike Sawyer plus many Sawyer grandchildren and one great grandchild round out the full family.

Curley's sensitivity, kindness and thoughtfulness were shared with all around her. She was known for her positive outlook on life, her eternal smile and her zest for living. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and bubbly grandmother with an extraordinary ability to combine grace with wisdom. Her gifts to us are go to bed with happy thoughts, tell the truth, do unto others as they would do unto you, and always smile!

 

In lieu of flowers, people are encouraged to make donations to St. John's Cathedral, American Heart Association or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Service information:

Funeral service to be held at St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral on Saturday, November 16th at 1:00pm.

Please leave a comment as condolence for her family below.

Funeral Service: November 16, 2019 1:00 pm

Saint John's Episcopal Cathedral
1350 Washington Street
Denver, CO 80203