Obituary of Dorothy Sayre

Dorothy Grace (Hamson) Sayre, age 100, went home to be with the Lord on May 2, 2020. She was lovingly cared for by her children and grandchildren in her own home until her dying day. Dorothy was born on April 5, 1920 in Fall River, MA to Charles Edwin and Mary (Reid) Hamson. After her family moved to Camden, NJ, her father died unexpectedly at the age of 54, leaving the family to struggle through the Great Depression. Compelled to drop out of school, Dot lied about her age to gain employment and progressed to floor supervisor in RCA during World War II. As a young adult she drifted from biblical truths she had been taught as a child, becoming a self-described “rebellious young lady.” One day while frequenting a local pub, Dot overheard a radio message on Ephesians 2:8-9 by evangelist Charles E. Fuller, played “accidentally” by the owner. Convicted of her life style and anxious to hear the end of the sermon, she ran home, tuned in, and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior on April 3, 1944. As a new 24-year-old believer in Christ, Dorothy met her future spouse Orland F. Sayre at RCA, marrying him on June 23, 1945, and children soon followed. In 1957 the family relocated to the Tunkhannock area. Dot was a committed housewife and an excellent cook. She was noted for her hospitality, evangelistic fervor and quirky sense of humor. The weekly ladies Bible study she faithfully attended was a highlight of her life. As her life entered its final chapters, Dorothy had no fear of death—in fact, she welcomed it, frequently saying she was “ready to go home!” She looked forward to entering heaven, joining her loved ones, and no longer carrying the burdens of this world. Surviving are her children Andrew John Sayre (Janet), Rodger Clarke Sayre (Mary), and Barbara Ruth Grosvenor (David). She was preceded in death by her husband Orland Frederick Sayre, daughter Jeanne Kathleen Nichols (Shannon), step-brother Edwin Hamson, brother Wilfred Hamson, and her parents. In addition to her children, Dorothy leaves 25 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren to cherish her memory. Arrangements and care entrusted to Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, Inc. 73 W. Tioga St. Tunkhannock, PA 18657. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private graveside service for the family was officiated by Pastor Brian Williams of Osterhout Bible Church. Interment was May 4, 2020, Prevost Cemetery, Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Osterhout Bible Church or Child Evangelism Fellowship of Wyoming County.