Pamela Kay Sawyer

Pamela "Pam" McClary Sawyer, 68, of Sioux City, died Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, at home surrounded by her family after a life long battle with diabetes.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, in Sioux City, with the Rev. Jan King officiating. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, 1801 Morningside Ave., in Sioux City.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.christysmith.com .
Pam was born on Aug. 7, 1949, to Robert C. McClary and Francis G. (Martineck), in Sioux City. Pam graduated from Central High School in 1967 then went to Western Iowa Tech Community College, where she became a dental assistant for five years.
Pam met her husband Lawrence Sawyer and married on Feb. 12, 1972. In 1975, they had their first child, Christopher, and in 1980 adopted their daughter, Wendy. Pam was a stay at home mom and did a lot of volunteer work with the PTA and Whittier School library and kindergarten rooms. When her children were grown, Pam became a barista at Java Coast until it closed. She then was a lunch lady at Whittier School for several years.
She loved life fully, her friendships were lifelong. Pam remained close with all of her high school friends her whole life. All the neighborhood kids loved coming to Pam's because she always had goodies for them. They called her house the "Kool-Aid House."
Pam endured many battles with her health, many surgeries, many illnesses, but never once did she complain. She put everyone before herself her whole life. Pam's grandkids were her pride and joy.
Pam is survived by her husband, Lawrence Sawyer; son, Christopher (Kara) Sawyer; daughter, Wendy (Troy) King; seven grandkids, Hannah, Maddie, Nicolas, Caden, Breanna, Isaiah and Carmen; three sisters, Ginger (Howard) Martin, Teresa (John) Bell, and Candice (Raj) Malhorta; three brothers, Chuck McClary, Rob (Cathy) McClary, and Scott McClary; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and an aunt, Maxine Petersen.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, James McClary; nephew, Robbie Martin; brother-in-law, Kevin Sweeney; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Diabetes Association.