Advertisement

NaWana Virginia <I>Sawyer</I> Wallace

Advertisement

NaWana Virginia Sawyer Wallace

Birth
Big Horn County, Wyoming, USA
Death
11 Nov 2019 (aged 87)
Burial
Lovell, Big Horn County, Wyoming, USA GPS-Latitude: 44.8099803, Longitude: -108.3871402
Memorial ID
View Source
NaWana Virginia Sawyer Wallace was born April 24, 1932, in Penrose, Wyoming, the second child of Merlin and Virginia (Moody) Sawyer. Her childhood years were spent on the M-L ranch at Kane WY, which her paternal grandparents, Levi and Rhoana Sawyer owned. When the ranch sold, her parents bought a house in Lovell, where NaWana received her education graduating from Lovell High School in 1951.

She met her husband of 67 years, Earl D. Wallace in Lovell after he returned from military service in Korea. They were married August 11, 1952 in Billings, Montana. After Earl joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they were sealed for time and eternity in the Logan Utah temple.

Their first decade of married life was spent in the military. When Earl was stationed in Germany, NaWana traveled by train to New York with 4 preschoolers in tow. Her wonderful sister, Marlene, traveled with her to help. The family lived in Worms, Germany for two years before returning to the states. As with all military families, moves were frequent, and the family traveled to various locations.

After Earl left the military the family resided in Florence, Arizona where he worked in the athletic department at the Arizona state prison. NaWana was employed at the hospital working in the kitchen and as a nurse’s aide.

The family returned to Lovell, Wyoming in 1968 where Earl joined the police department and NaWana worked at the long-term care center. December 10, 1972, they lost their 19-year- old son Norman in a car accident. He had just returned home from military service in Vietnam.

They moved to Thermopolis in 1979 where they purchased their home on Peppermint Lane and a small home on Ryan Street for NaWana’s parents. As life changed, they sold their home on Peppermint Lane and built onto the house on Ryan Street in order to care for her aging parents. She provided care for her parents until they passed away. NaWana, Earl and Mickey continued to live at the Ryan street address until Earl and NaWana moved to the Pioneer Home in 2017.

NaWana was employed at Northwest BOCES for many years. She had a soft spot for elderly people and for children trying to cope with life’s challenges. She went the extra mile by going in on her days off to provide haircuts and assist with field trips. She retired from BOCES in March 2013, at the age of 81.

She not only loved the children she worked with but also had deep love for her church family in Thermopolis. Over the years she served in many positions including Relief Society President. The sisters in her ward meant a great deal to her, and next to her family, were the most important people in her life.

This fiery, outspoken woman left a legacy of love, caring and hard work. She returned home on November 11, 2019 to be with those family members who preceded her in death and whom she dearly loved.

She was preceded in death by her son Norman; grandson Shaun Wallace; parents; brother, Norman Sawyer and sisters Yvonne Walker and Marilyn Gilbert.

She is survived by her husband Earl D. Wallace; sons, Earl M. (Debbie) Wallace of Pocatello, Idaho; Mickey S. Wallace of Thermopolis; daughters, Connie (Leslie) Tippetts of Lovell, and Julie Nebel of Ashburn, Virginia; sister, Marlene Landolt of Eaton, Colorado; 16 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

© Bryant Funeral November 14, 2019
NaWana Virginia Sawyer Wallace was born April 24, 1932, in Penrose, Wyoming, the second child of Merlin and Virginia (Moody) Sawyer. Her childhood years were spent on the M-L ranch at Kane WY, which her paternal grandparents, Levi and Rhoana Sawyer owned. When the ranch sold, her parents bought a house in Lovell, where NaWana received her education graduating from Lovell High School in 1951.

She met her husband of 67 years, Earl D. Wallace in Lovell after he returned from military service in Korea. They were married August 11, 1952 in Billings, Montana. After Earl joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints they were sealed for time and eternity in the Logan Utah temple.

Their first decade of married life was spent in the military. When Earl was stationed in Germany, NaWana traveled by train to New York with 4 preschoolers in tow. Her wonderful sister, Marlene, traveled with her to help. The family lived in Worms, Germany for two years before returning to the states. As with all military families, moves were frequent, and the family traveled to various locations.

After Earl left the military the family resided in Florence, Arizona where he worked in the athletic department at the Arizona state prison. NaWana was employed at the hospital working in the kitchen and as a nurse’s aide.

The family returned to Lovell, Wyoming in 1968 where Earl joined the police department and NaWana worked at the long-term care center. December 10, 1972, they lost their 19-year- old son Norman in a car accident. He had just returned home from military service in Vietnam.

They moved to Thermopolis in 1979 where they purchased their home on Peppermint Lane and a small home on Ryan Street for NaWana’s parents. As life changed, they sold their home on Peppermint Lane and built onto the house on Ryan Street in order to care for her aging parents. She provided care for her parents until they passed away. NaWana, Earl and Mickey continued to live at the Ryan street address until Earl and NaWana moved to the Pioneer Home in 2017.

NaWana was employed at Northwest BOCES for many years. She had a soft spot for elderly people and for children trying to cope with life’s challenges. She went the extra mile by going in on her days off to provide haircuts and assist with field trips. She retired from BOCES in March 2013, at the age of 81.

She not only loved the children she worked with but also had deep love for her church family in Thermopolis. Over the years she served in many positions including Relief Society President. The sisters in her ward meant a great deal to her, and next to her family, were the most important people in her life.

This fiery, outspoken woman left a legacy of love, caring and hard work. She returned home on November 11, 2019 to be with those family members who preceded her in death and whom she dearly loved.

She was preceded in death by her son Norman; grandson Shaun Wallace; parents; brother, Norman Sawyer and sisters Yvonne Walker and Marilyn Gilbert.

She is survived by her husband Earl D. Wallace; sons, Earl M. (Debbie) Wallace of Pocatello, Idaho; Mickey S. Wallace of Thermopolis; daughters, Connie (Leslie) Tippetts of Lovell, and Julie Nebel of Ashburn, Virginia; sister, Marlene Landolt of Eaton, Colorado; 16 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

© Bryant Funeral November 14, 2019


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement