Carla Leigh Sawyer-Smith

Carla Leigh Sawyer-Smith, age 50, daughter of Carolyn Hill Sawyer and Thomas F. Sawyer of Munford, peacefully passed over into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at her parents' home following a brief period of hospice care. She died after a long, hard-fought battle with post-renal transplant related cancer.

Carla was born on February 15, 1969 in Memphis, TN. She graduated from Raleigh Egypt High School in 1986 and worked as an accounting assistant for her father. She married her best friend and love of her life, William F. Smith, on October 4, 1997 and they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana a short time later-- where he is an airplane mechanic for Fed-Ex.

Besides her parents and husband, she leaves her twin brother, Thomas Jason Sawyer, also of Atoka. They were holding on to each other at the beginning of this life, and also at the end of hers. She also leaves behind a sister-in-law, Rebecca Newbill Sawyer, of Atoka, a brother-in-law, Chris Smith, of Mississippi, as well as a loving group of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends.

Carla was preceded in death by her grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Hill of Covington, TN and Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Sawyer, Sr. of Dyersburg, and also by her mother and father-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Smith of Paris, TN.

Carla enjoyed cooking, reading, riding Bill's Harley, and fishing with him at their lake house in Paris, TN. She also enjoyed helping others and spending time with her family. She was an incredibly selfless and compassionate person who truly cared about people and never complained of her longstanding health issues. She especially loved their "fur baby," a beautiful black Labrador retriever hunting dog named "Jake" who passed on several years ago. Her quiet charm, humble manner and infectious smile will be missed by many.

Visitation will be Wednesday, October 16, 2019, from 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm at Ridgeway Funeral Home.  A graveside service will be held Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at 3:00 pm at New Liberty Cemetery in Buchanan, TN.

Burial will follow the graveside service in New Liberty Cemetery.

The family requests that any memorials in her honor may be made to The American Cancer Society or Indiana University Cancer Center.