Willas "Willee" Sayre Garrison
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Willas (Willee) Sayre Garrison was born in Los Angeles, CA, on February 5, 1932, to Jack and Aeoma Schellhous Sayre. She died May 7, 2021, in Torrance, CA, at the age of 89. She was predeceased by former husband John Melton and was the widow of Melvin Garrison. She is survived by 3 daughters and 1 stepson: Winkee Melton of La Crescenta, CA; Dawn Melton Mulkern Custer (Dale) of Roland, AR; Heather Melton Penta (Brad) of Slidell, LA; and Ty Garrison of Orange, CA. She also is survived by 8 grandchildren: Mathew, Ian, Caitlin, Shannon, Kelly, Holly, Thomas, and Callie, and 1 great-grandson, Callum. Additionally, she is survived by her sister and lifelong best friend, Connie Sayre, her brother John Sayre, her uncle Harry Schellhous, her aunt Wilma Seilert, and various cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings Gwen Sayre, Lynnea Karmelich, and George Sayre.
Willee grew up in Los Angeles, CA, and Honolulu, HI, where she graduated from Punahou School and earned a scholarship to Stanford. She was proud that President Obama later attended and graduated from Punahou. In June 2019 she attended her 70th class reunion at Punahou with 2 of her daughters. During the Hawaii years she swam competitively, was a model whose picture appeared in several local publications and in National Geographic Magazine, and won 1st runner-up in the Miss Hawaii contest.
She earned a Bachelor's Degree at University of Hawaii, a Master's Degree from Columbia University in New York City, NY, and a Ph.D. from University of Tulsa, OK. A lifelong reader, learner, and retired teacher, she started her career in an Appalachian elementary school and taught in various high schools, colleges, and universities until she retired from University of California-Irvine where she specialized in teaching immigrants English as a Second Language (ESL) and Learning Skills.
In the 1970s Willee served as Executive Director for the YWCA in Tarrant County, TX, where she made a major difference in many young women's lives. She set up the first rape crisis hotline in Ft. Worth and was selected one of Tarrant County's Newsmakers of the Year by the "Ft. Worth Star Telegram" for her often controversial work. She was a trailblazer doing what needed to be done to help other women which wasn't always acceptable or "ladylike" in 1970s Texas. She was a brave woman, and many people looked up to her to do the things they didn't yet have the courage to do. It was unusual for a woman to have her doctorate then, and the Tarrant County government halls rang with her name, "Hello, Dr. Sayre," as she advocated for women.
She was innovative too. When she taught grade school in Appalachia in the early 1950s, many of the older children couldn't read so she started using comic books as part of her teaching curriculum. She was an artist who made striking oil paintings as well as tole-painted wooden eggs and toys for her grandchildren. She was a devoted grandmother who relocated to Arkansas in 1993 to enjoy her grandchildren there. A good cook, she was known for her strawberry jam, Christmas fruitcakes, and turkey soups made from the Thanksgiving feast leftovers. She loved to sew, making everything from Heather's wedding gown to doll clothes and quilts. She enjoyed bird watching and gardening and became a certified Master Gardener. One of her proudest accomplishments was helping others through her certified therapy dog, Rani. She and Rani visited patients at Little Rock's Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute to lift their spirits. They also participated in a program at the public libraries in North Little Rock in which therapy dogs listened uncritically to children reading aloud. She was a member of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Little Rock, AR, and of Daughters of the King (DOK). Following her husband Mel's death, she volunteered at the Little Rock VA's Oncology Department and made sure her granddaughters also volunteered on their summer breaks. Her good friend Dr. Manish Kohli said, "She was a gem of a person, and she'll stay in our hearts and memories."
Rose Family Funeral Home in Simi Valley, CA, handled the funeral arrangements.
Services will be held at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Little Rock, AR, on Saturday, August 7, at 2:00 pm, with a reception following. The church is located at 12415 Cantrell Road in Little Rock, AR 72223. The service will also be broadcast via Zoom. The link will be posted on the church's Facebook page Saturday morning. facebook.com/stmikeslr/