Marie Sayre

Marie Dixon VanHoose Sayre, 78, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away November 12, 2020.  She was born in Frankfort, Kentucky to Richard and Clarice Isaacs VanHoose and grew up in the St. Matthews area of Louisville, Kentucky.  She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1964, married and moved to Dallas.  While in Dallas, Marie earned her Master Degree in Art Education from Southern Methodist University.  She opened the Art Department at Richardson North Middle School and taught Art to the students there.  In 1975 she relocated with her family to Little Rock, Arkansas when her husband, Gene, received an opportunity to open a private law practice.  Never one to sit still for too long, Marie established a career at the Dallas Apparel Mart representing the Vested Gentress clothing company, along with other apparel lines; she owned and operated the popular Additions Maternity Boutique in West Little Rock, and also created and designed her own maternity clothing line.  After selling the Boutique she became an independent entrepreneur in several other businesses.

Marie was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, was active in the Alpha Gamma Delta Alumni Association and helped establish Chapters on several college campuses.  She was involved with the Waggener HS Class Reunion Committee, spent countless hours finding and organizing classmate contact information, and was an integral part of the planning and execution of many Waggener High School Reunions.

She was an extremely dedicated and devoted mother to her children, Shannon and Blake.  Marie loved to travel and visited every state in the United States, as well as many other countries all over the world.  She delighted in being a grandmother and spent a lot of time enjoying her six grandchildren and lavishing them with love, gifts and “Granny Adventures”.

She was incredibly creative and made the best homemade candy and adorable handmade “Granny Blankets” for any of her friends and family that were lucky enough to be a recipient.  She is best known, however, for her innate ability to reach out to people, make a connection, be a wonderful friend and have friends.  As her friends from coast to coast, from every aspect and time and place in her life can attest, this was one of her greatest gifts.  She loved people well, and they loved her back for it.  She was a beloved wife, mother and Granny, friend, neighbor, writer, poet, world traveler, artist and designer.

Preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 50 years, Eugene G. Sayre, she is survived by her daughter, Shannon Marie Sayre Pickrell (Keith Wiedower) of Murphy, Texas; son, Dr. R. Blake Sayre (Helen R. Kelly Sayre) of Pensacola Beach, Florida; brother Warren VanHoose of Louisville, Kentucky; and grandchildren, Makenna Wiedower, Chase Pickrell, Gabby Wiedower, Ty Pickrell, Lainey Sayre and Keely Wiedower.

Memorial Service will be Saturday June 18, 2022 2:00 pm at Smith Little Rock chapel followed by visitation.

Arrangements by Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., Little Rock, AR 72205, (501)224-2200.  Marie's online guestbook may be signed at www.smithfamilycares.com.