Susan "Merrill" Sawyer

Susan "Merrill" Sawyer Duson, LA - Memorial services will be held at a later date this fall for Susan "Merrill" Sawyer, 74, who died Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center Hospital in Lafayette, LA. Susan Merrill Sawyer was the third child and daughter of Claire Donohoe Sawyer and John Pascal Sawyer, both deceased. She was born in Palo Alto California. Merrill is survived by her sister, Claire Sawyer Griffis and spouse John, Florida, brother, John Pascal Sawyer III, and spouse Terry Lee, Washington, brother, David Terry Sawyer and spouse Laurie, California and sister, Mary Candee Zaunbrecher and spouse Fred, Louisiana. Also many nieces, nephews, cousins. Merrill made friends everywhere she went and stayed in touch with most who remember her fondly. Merrill’s family moved to Vero Beach, Florida in 1952 where Merrill grew up loving the outdoors, swimming in the Atlantic, horseback riding, raising and loving many assorted pets. She attended St. Helen’s parochial school in Vero and graduated High School from Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. She received a BS in Psychology from Merryville College, St. Louis, Missouri in 1982. Merrill spent the next few years as a novitiate of the Sacred Heart before moving back to California. There, Merrill purchased land in Feather Falls, California where she designed and built her dream log cabin. She raised horses and worked for many years at Ace Hardware in Feather Falls. Merrill was also an accomplished carpenter. In 2005, Merrill was severely injured in an accident. This event turned her life upside down but she met her disability with spirit and determination. Merrill used a motorized wheelchair to work, play and travel from then on. With the increasing forest fire activity in her mountain community and because of her disability, Merrill moved to Duson, Louisiana to be near family in 2019. Merrill’s family would like to send their gratitude to the doctors and nurses of the ICU at Oschner Lafayette General Hospital who cared for Merrill with compassion and respect. In lieu of cards or flowers please make a donation to Halleck Creek Ranch. They are a member of Equine Assisted Activities, halleckcreekranch.org. Friends may view the obituary and guestbook online at www.gossenfuneralhome.net. Arrangements have been entrusted to Gossen Funeral Home, Inc. of Rayne, LA, (337) 334-3141. Gossen Funeral Home, Inc.

Susan "Merrill" Sawyer

December 29, 1949 - May 21, 2024