Rayola Violet DeWaal Miller White Hawks Sawyer

Rayola Violet Sawyer oMarch 18, 1924 — July 1, 2016

Rayola Violet DeWaal Miller White Hawks Sawyer, 92, passed away July 1, 2016. She was born March 18, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah to William and Lena Zbinden DeWaal. She married her eternal sweetheart, Norman “Loane” Miller on April 2, 1942, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Before marriage, she attended West High School in Salt Lake City where she grew up. Violet was an amazing homemaker with an incredibly strong spirit. Her sense of humor was a delight to all who knew her. After Loane’s passing in 1953 she worked for Osborne Apparel and Purity Biscuit. She was also a nurse’s aide at St. Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Violet later married James Edwin White, Claude Harris Hawks and Nile Sawyer. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and found great joy in serving as a Primary Teacher, Relief Society Counselor, Stake Missionary, Ward Singles Representative and Ordinance Worker in the St. George LDS Temple.

She loved life and all living things. She was especially good with children, quilting, gardening, art, music and dancing. She was a beautiful ballroom dancer.

Violet is survived by her children: Norman Loane, Jr. (Alice) Miller of LaVerkin, Elda Ranae (Doug) Wrigley of Herriman, Wanda Fae (Glen) Miller Cedar City, Marla Fawn (Richard) Brimley of Gainsville, Florida, Fred David Miller of West Jordan, Robert Scott (Rose) White of Le Mars, Iowa, Melody Violet (Judy) Hawks of Ogden, and Claude Vaughn (Lisa) Hawks of Hurricane; 35 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; her brother, John DeWaal; step-children: Rick (Evette) Sawyer of Murray, Jo (Lynne) Savage of Stockton, Georgia and John (Linda) Davis of St. George; step-grandchildren; and step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husbands; her daughter, Marian Rayola; grandsons: Travis Wrigley and Christopher Hawks; great-grandchildren: Adam Wrigley and Maryn Violet Miller; her parents; six brothers and sisters; and daughters-in-law, Pamela Miller and Rebecca White.

Funeral Services

  • Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 9, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Sage Creek Ward Chapel, 807 W. Capilla Road, Washington, Utah.
  • Visitations will be held Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W.St. George Blvd., and on Saturday prior to services from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Chapel.
  • Interment will be held Monday, July 11, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Bountiful Memorial Park, 2224 S. 200 West, Bountiful, Utah.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221.

For condolences, full obituary, and funeral listings please visit Metcalf Mortuary online.   

The family would like to express their thanks to CNS Hospice, the doctors and nurses at Dixie Regional Medical Center and Autumn Park for their compassionate service to Violet and her family.

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