Michele A. 'Missy' Sawyer, 40

Michele A. "Missy" Sawyer, 40, passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center from the result of a stroke.

She was born Feb. 26, 1965, in Jacksonville, Ark., the daughter of Avery and Lynne Sawyer. Along with her parents, her brother, and sister, she moved to Columbia Falls in 1976. She attended school in Columbia Falls and graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1983.

Despite a 25-year battle with multiple sclerosis, she was very athletic. She was an accomplished drummer, having played in local area bands. She was a licensed massage therapist, a bank teller, and a collector of Tigger memorabilia, Hot Wheels and trading cards.

Michele was preceded in death by her mother, Lynne Sawyer.

Michele is survived by her father, Avery Sawyer, and his wife, Rozan, of Dallas; brother, Matt Sawyer, of Irvine, Calif.; sister, Mandy Howard, and her husband, Brett, and their three children, Malyssa, Bethany and Marcus, of Lake Stevens, Wash.; grandmother, Agnes Sunell, of Columbia Falls; uncle, Con Sunell, and his wife, Teri, of Eugene, Ore.; stepbrother, Ty Williams, of Dallas; and caregiver and companion, Laura Black. Missy also leaves behind her beloved dogs, Velvet, Halliebear and Gracie May; and many close family and friends.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 9, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, at St. Richard's Catholic Church. Burial will be afterward in Woodlawn Cemetery.