Barbara Ann Sawyer Sears' Obituary
Beloved mother, wife, friend and grandmother, Barbara Ann Sawyer Sears, age 82, of Alachua, Florida died Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, FL, after several years of declining health. She was born September 4, 1934 in Somerville, MA and adopted by Edson Vinton and Dorothy Sawyer Sears. She spent much of her youth in Barre, MA, and graduated from Barre High School in 1952. She married Alfred Patrick Makin in 1954 after attending Boston University.
She bravely moved to Miami in 1967 with her three young daughters and worked hard to care for them. Barbara earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design from Barry University in Miami. She went on to be a supervisor at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for many years. She loved animals, and enjoyed reading, traveling, and giving to others. She gave her time, love, kindness and knowledge freely to her friends and family. She was ahead of her time and accepted all people with care and compassion. Her cooking skills were legendary and her massive meatloaf well loved.
She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Lee (Bill) Wilson and Jennifer Sears Ryder (Charles “Rocky” Knight), both of Alachua, FL; sister, Linda (Jim) Wehrle of Daphne, Alabama; grandchildren, Cameron Guy Wilson of Farmington, New Mexico and William R. Wilson, Jr. (Betty) of Denton, Texas, and loving nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Patrick Makin, and daughter, Jane Elisabeth Makin.
She will be cremated and ashes spread in the Gulf Stream so she can continue to travel the world. A memorial remembrance will be held at the home of Nancy L. Wilson in Alachua, FL, on September 16, 2017 at 1pm for family and friends.
She brought love, joy, humor and kindness to all who knew her, and she will be dearly missed.
Arrangements are under the care of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd Street, Newberry, FL.
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