Shirley Sayer passed away on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Portage, Ind.

She was born on November 15, 1936 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Leo and Jewell (Merrifield) Crimin, both of whom preceded her in death.

In August 1956, she married Francis Sayer who survives.

She is also survived by six children: Thomas Sayer (Sherri) of Tomah, Wisc., Margaret Sayer of Tucson, Ariz., Frank Sayer, Jr. (Shelley) of Portage, Ind., Korrie Retzloff (Gerry) of Battlecreek, Mich., Lon Sayer (Roni) of New Carlisle, Ohio, and Mikkie Schemanski (Paul) of Petoskey, Mich.

She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren and by all her church family members of New Life Wesleyan Church in Chesterton.

She is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Thomas Merrifield.

She was mainly a stay-at-home mom, and raised six children. Shirley was the queen of hosts. She loved helping people and invited friends, neighbors and family into her home constantly. All who entered felt welcomed by Shirley. She had a heart for the poor and for children.

As her own children grew, Shirley would baby-sit a number of additional children in her home, and loved each moment. She was commonly known as “Aunt Shirley” by many little ones.

She was active in the Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge and the VFW. When she moved to Zephyrhills, Florida in 1989, she joined the Eagles Lodge and became an officer.

She enjoyed playing euchre and cribbage, and dancing. She loved taking walks outdoors, shopping for others, and gazing at the clouds in the sky.

She was a member of the Central United Methodist Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and the Trinity United Methodist Church in Zephryhills, Fla.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 11 a.m. at New Life Wesleyan Church, 75 East Co. Road 1100 North, Chesterton, Ind. Visitation will be held Monday, August 29, 2011 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, 6941 Central Ave., Portage, Ind. Cremation will be performed by Heritage Crematory, Portage.

Online condolences to the family may be made at www.ee-fh.com

Posted 8/29/2011