Funeral services will be held at 11:00 on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. A private Family burial will precede the visitation which will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 29. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. For condolences or questions please visit www.Mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Phyllis and her family.

Phyllis Natalie Sayre was born on July 22, 1923, at home in Marshalltown. She was the daughter of Raymond and Delilah (Gibson) Downs. Phyllis attended school in the Marshalltown Community School District graduating with the class of 1941. Phyllis was united in marriage to Edgar Sayre, Jr. on June 30, 1945, at Perrin Field in Denison, Texas. They had lived in Marshalltown, Syracuse, New York, and Plano, Texas. Prior to moving to Syracuse, Phyllis worked in the office at Lennox Industries. She enjoyed writing letters and journaling, reading, embroidery, cleaning, cooking and spending time with her family. Some of her most cherished memories were summer vacations with members of the Downs family at Okoboji Lake and Minnesota.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Craig (Becky) Sayre, of Marshalltown, Iowa; sister, JoAnn (Dick) Daters, of Melbourne; daughter-in-law, Margo Sayre, of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren: Sean (Miriam) Sayre, Tina (Travis) Wilbur, Scott (Carrie) Sayre, Bret Sayre, Kara (Max) Adona, Natalie (David) Roelfzema, Sarah (Joe) Stone, Travis (Valeri) Prusha, Kristin (Ken) Peck, and 18 great-grandchildren: Thomas Sayre, Joseph Sayre, Whitney Wilbur, Cole Wilber, Karinna Sayre, Jayden Adona, Allison Adona, Kandence Roelfzeme, Keyan Roelfzeme, Kylin Roelfzeme, and Kolden Roelfzeme, Dalton Stone, Ezra Stone, Sophia Stone, Gabriel Prusha, Brandon Peck and Chase Peck.

In death, Phyllis rejoins her husband, Edgar Marr Sayre; son Mark Edgar Sayre, great grandson, Gavin Michael Sayre; brothers: Thomas Esben (Eby) Downs and Raymond Elmo (Colonel) Downs, and sisters: Dorothy Gifford, Pauline Wier, Theyes Eldridge and Arlene Nicholl.