of Conway, AR
March 24, 1933 - July 9, 2018
Betty (Bowie) Sawrie, 85 of Greenbrier, Arkansas, shed her earthly robe for her heavenly one on Monday, July 9, 2018. She was born March 24, 1933, in Centerville, Arkansas to the late Barnaby Leon ''Bonnie'' and Jewell Lillie (Tucker) Bowie. She was preceded in death by her three sisters: Patricia Diane Bowie, Deloris Hardin and Bonnie Younger; three brothers: (David) Elroy Bowie, Gerald Faxton Bowie and Daniel Jettson ''Jett'' Bowie.
Betty was a member of the Greenbrier Nazarene Church and devoted her life to serving others through cooking, sewing and encouraging words. She was a writer, painter, musician and creative seamstress. Betty had 35 songs published with five different publishing companies and played piano for the Sawrie Family Quartet for nearly 20 years. Betty worked for over ten years at Baldwin Piano Company, but her final career was as a seamstress. She loved others deeply and that love was returned by her many friends and family. Her pies and rolls will be missed by many, along with her smile and generous spirit. She was a talented lady with many gifts and she shared her love with everyone she met.
Left to cherish her memory and carry on her legacy is her loving husband of 58 years, Shelby Gene Sawrie, daughter Shellie (Devo) O'Quinn, brother, Billy Leon (Dorothy) Bowie, numerous nieces and nephews that she loved dearly, and a host of young people from around the world who called her ''Grandma.''
Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 on Wednesday, July 10, 2018, at the Greenbrier Nazarene Church. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 11, 2018 at the Greenbrier Nazarene Church with interment to follow at Thorn Cemetery in Greenbrier.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the wonderful nurses and doctors and staff with Hospice Home Care, Baptist Medical Center, Conway Regional Medical Center, and the UAMS Cancer Institute.
Shelby, Shelly, and Devo,
Please accept Matilda and my sincere condolences.
Of course I have know Betty for a very long time and Shelby since we were 6 years old. That would 75 years. Matilda has known you guys for several years too, due the many singing conventions. She grew to love Betty and looked forward to seeing her when we got the chance. Yes, a Shelby she’s very fond of you too.
God Bless and you all are in our prayers. Hope to see you soon.
We love you.
So sorry for the familys loss. She is singing with all the singers in Heaven.
Our Love and Prayers to your Family
Such Happy Memories of this great lady. She will surely be missed. May God be with you through this difficult time but we know we will meet again to sing in Heaven one day.
Shelby and family.....my heart goes out to you....She was such a good lady and will be missed for so many reasons.....I am so glad to have got to meet you both as your auto insurance agent for many years and develop a friendship. My deepest sympathy to all. May God comfort you all during this time !!!
Shelly, I’m sorry for your loss. Your mom was a sweet lady. Heaven has gained an angel.
To the family of Betty Sawrie : We are so sorry to hear of Betty passing. May the lord comfort you in your time of loss and God be with you until you meet again. Billie and Wesley Hall.
So sorry for the loss of a dear friend just know she's in a much better place and I feel she was kin folks so I did love her.
Reason we aren't there at the viewing tonight is Carol has the vertigo.
Gods blessings on all of you,
Marshall and Carol Jean Betts-Gordon
Betty was a sweet beautiful woman that will be missed by us in the singing convention world. My thoughts and prayers are with Shelby and the family. May God hold you close with peace, comfort, and guidance. Love you Shelby.
Aunt Betty was one of our favorite people. So glad she was apart of our life. Learned alot from her. How to sing. How she loved you no matter what life was putting you thru. So i thank god for loaning her to us. Aunt Betty my mother an their sisters are praising and singing some good old gospel harmomy. Love you Uncle Shelby Shellie and Devo. Love Grace and Carrie Lynn
Shellie and family,
I'm so sorry for your loss. May you take comfort in the legacy that Mrs. Betty leaves us, and in the love that is surrounding you during this difficult time. Love you and praying for you.
We send our deepest sympathy to Shelby and Shelly at this most difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sincerely. Mr & Mrs B , Mark , Kary and Jerry
So sorry,
Condolences to the family for y'all loss. Reading the wonderful comments . Ms.Betty was a very nice lady that will be missed by all that knew and loved her. May the loyal love of Almighty God be with and comfort y'all.
So sorry for your loss Miss Betty was a very sweet person and will be missed by all. Prayers for the family in their time of need. God bless the family. Linda Baird Conway Arkansas
We are sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
prayers for all! Awesome person, song writer and singer.
praying for family knew her for years
I loved Ms. Betty..
She worked for my mom when she was dating Mr. Shelby. He came in the restaurant often to do a little flrting.
When I attended First Nazeren Chuch, she was always quick to search me out and give me a hug, she always said "I love you"
And not to forget, she made an awesome coconut pie.
She will be sorely missed.
Prayers for the family.
Shellie, Devo and Shelby Gene, I am so sorry about Betty, I’m praying for all of you, and will continue to pray for all of you. Betty was a great life long friend to my family, I know where she is and you are assured you know she is in her Heavenly Home with a brand new body, no more suffering, no more pain. She will be missed by lots of folks. You are loved and supported by all of us. We are here for you.
Shellie, Devo and Shelby Gene, we are saddened to hear of Betty’s passing; but also rejoicing with you that she s no longer suffering in this life. She has a new body, no pain, no sickness, all Complete whole and clothed in white. Betty was always a ray of sunshine whenever you were around her; she would have you laughing shortly after visiting with her. So many great memories, so many times we have heard her play the piano and the quartet singing songs about Jesus and her heavenly home. She is already there tickling those ivory’s of a Grand Piano! We feel your sorrow, and we are praying for all of you; she loved all of you, and spoke so highly of all of you. We are here for you and love you, ready to be wherever to help support you during this time. You have lots of families, friends, a great church family, a great community that love you and are praying for you.
Prayers for the family
Shellie and Shelby, Aunt Betty was a one of a kind person! She was a teacher of life and the love of God! She was so giving of her self and always had time to feed you or do something for you. She was so talented in many ways, poetry, songs, cooking and sewing. She shared them all! Shellie you were her pride and joy! She will leave a big hole in all our hearts here on earth but she is having a wonderful reunion with her loved one over in heaven! We will see her again if we follow her example and live our life for God! Love you both so much! Sylvia
Who the family, our hearts go out to you. I have many fond memories of Miss Betty playing the piano for us while we sang. We had some really good times during those years. Always enjoyed seeing her. She always had a smile on her face and a warm heart. We regret not seeing her in recent years. She has made her transition to her Heavenly reward. We have the hope and promise from our Lord Jesus Christ that one day we will be together again. To Shelby Shelly and the entire family our prayers are with you.