BOONE, Iowa—Phyllis Margaret (Schmitz) Sayre, born Jan. 22, 1921, has passed on to her Lord after 102 years. She died peacefully in her sleep on May 11, 2023. Phyllis was the third child of John and Ann Schmitz of Halbur, Iowa. Her parents and sisters – Lillian, Ann and Rita – all preceded her in death.
Phyllis graduated from St. Anthony’s Academy for Girls High School in Carroll, Iowa, now part of Kuemper High School, in 1938 and was awarded a scholarship to Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa where she studied nursing. She went on to St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll and became a Registered Nurse. She then joined the U. S. Women’s Army Corp and served as a Lieutenant during WWII, tending wounded soldiers in California and Tennessee being flown back to hospitals nearest their homes.
After the war, Phyllis married James Raymond Sayre of Scranton, Iowa. James was a Staff Sergeant at the time after release as a prisoner of war. He was with the Red Bull Brigade, many of whom were captured in North Africa at the beginning of America’s involvement in the war.
Together, Phyllis and James had 13 children, seven girls and six boys, a Baker’s Dozen. Phyllis spent her postwar years managing the house full of children as the family made its home in Seattle, WA, San Lorenzo, CA, El Paso, TX, and Dona Anna, NM before settling permanently on an acreage east of Boone, IA, where she lived for the next 50 years prior to moving to the Westhaven Community in Boone in 2019.
Along with her parents and sisters, Phyllis was preceded in death by James and daughters-in-law Cathy and Nancy Sayre. Phyllis is survived by her children – James L. (Kitty) Sayre, Jean Antoinette “Toni” (Gene) Ridgeway, Sandra (Joe) Osborn, John (Patrice) Sayre, Robert (Cathy) Sayre, Richard (Nancy) Sayre, Jerry (Stephanie) Sayre, Margaret “Peggy” (Lee) Johnson, Mary (Richard) Fox, Jan (Steve) Barrett, Jo (Gary) Johnson, Anna (Shelley Tiffany) Sayre, and Paul Sayre. There are also 35 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, and two great, great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Boone. Interment with Military Honors provided by the Boone Veterans Council will be at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Boone County.
Online condolences can be left at www.schroederfuneral.com
Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home 609 7th Street, Boone, Iowa is assisting the family with these arrangements.
