Nancy L. Sayre, Formerly Of Southampton, Dies January 11

Nancy L. Sayre, of Newport News, Virginia, and formerly of Southampton, died on January 21 following a brief illness. She died one day before her 84th birthday.

She was born January 12, 1937 in Southampton. She was a resident of Poquoson, Virginia for 38 years before moving to The Chesapeake in Newport News in 2017.

Ms. Sayre graduated from St. Luke’s School of Nursing in New York City in 1957. Upon graduation, she worked for a year at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan. After her marriage in 1958, she worked in Brunswick, Maine as the only office nurse for five doctors. She also worked in hospitals in Warwick, Rhode Island, and Southampton.

Her family described her as loving, kind, supportive, unselfish, giving, and sacrificing, noting that she was “unconditional love personified,” and a role model as a godly woman and godly wife.

Ms. Sayre was a dedicated spouse and best friend to her husband, Tom, her family said. She gave up her career as a registered nurse to raise her children, Richard and Jennifer, which she said was her greatest and most important accomplishment, according to her family. She was a homeroom mother, band booster, Girl Scout leader, and PTA member. She was always there for her family. She taught her children two “wrongs” don’t make it right. She came to countless concerts and performances her children and grandchildren were in.

At times, Ms. Sayre was practically a single parent, due to her husband’s naval career. She took on both roles with excellence. She was able to take care of the yard, house, and car while raising two children. She was a homemaker, and an excellent cook, her family said, noting that her made-from-scratch apple pies and other treats would be missed.

Through several moves, Ms. Sayre always took houses and made them into clean, comfortable homes. Besides doing all of those things, she took care of herself. She was in excellent health, and was taking aerobics classes and kickboxing until March 2020, when COVID closed down the fitness center. She also still walked 1 to 1 ½ miles daily.

Ms. Sayre was a very down-to-Earth, go-with-the-flow type, her family said, noting that she did not hold prejudices, grudges, or judge others.

She was predeceased by her parents, Dr. Harold and Dorothy Lewis; her sister Eleanor Graves; and brother George Lewis. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Thomas Sayre of Newport News; her daughter Jennifer McMasters (Brad) of Poquoson, Virginia; son Richard Sayre (Debra) of Poquoson; and her granddaughters, Emily McMasters, Elizabeth Sayre, and Jessica McMasters all of Poquoson. She is also survived by her sisters, Bernice Holden (John), Mary Hildreth, and Dorothy Tennant (Gil), all of Southampton; her sister-in-law, Judy Debes of Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey; and many nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service was scheduled. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the St. Luke’s Food Closet, 300 Ella Taylor Rd, Yorktown, VA 23692, or the Chesapeake Benevolent Fund, 955 Harpersville Rd, Newport News, VA 23601.