EAST PHARSALIA – Cleone “Peggy” Sayles, 99, long-time resident of East Pharsalia, passed away Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, in the Residential Health Care Facility of Chenango Memorial Hospital, where she had made her home since September of 2006.
The youngest of the five children of Myrtle and Clara Remington King, Peggy was born in Sherburne early in January of 1911. On Dec. 17, 1927, she married Clarence Sayles, and they settled in Vast Pharsalia. Over her years, Peggy worked for the Gladding Corp. in South Otselic, the Dunckel Egg Farm in Preston, and the corset factory in Oxford, but her main interests were her beloved family and her community. She was an active member of the East Pharsalia Baptist Church for over 60 years, acting as Sunday School teacher, church treasurer, and an unofficial “taxi service” for church members who couldn’t get there any other way. She belonged to the 7 Town Sunday School Association, the local Home Bureau, the Chenango County Home Bureau, and the East Pharsalia Cemetery Association. A lady who loved children, Peggy served as a 4-H leader and, in addition to her own grand, great grand, and great great grandchildren, whom she loved dearly, she had “adopted” many other youngsters along the way and they all called her “grandma.”
Peggy is survived by her children and their spouses: Elma and Nelson Wright of Homer, Myrtle “Richard” Angle of New Berlin, Florence and Don Hammond of Norwich, Patricia and Harold Morse of Flint, Michigan, Edwin and Donna Sayles of East Pharsalia, Verda Wehner of Cincinnatus, and Margaret and Carroll Smith of Sherburne. Also surviving are 24 grandchildren and many, many great and great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Peggy was predeceased by her husband, Clarence, on Sept. 24, 1965; by her parents, her sisters Ursula Franklin and Theabelle Franklin, and brothers LeRoy “Mike” and Clarence “Pat” King. She was also predeceased by two sons-in-law, Francis Bennett and William Wehner.
Funeral services for Peggy will be held at 11 a.m. Friday from the East Pharsalia Baptist Church. The Rev. Paul Hills will officiate. Interment will follow in J.D. Lewis Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 to p.m.
Peggy’s family would like to thank all of the staff of the RHCF at Chenango Memorial Hospital for the care given to Peggy during her years there; and a special thanks to Karen, her Hospice nurse, and to the volunteers who came in to see her each week, for their caring and compassion.
Please consider memorial contributions to the East Pharsalia Baptist Church, c/o Laura Sayles, Tyler Rd., East Pharsalia, NY 13758; Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815; or to the Activities Dept. at the RHCF of Chenango Memorial Hospital, 179 North Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815.