Marilyn Z. Sauer

Marilyn Sauer 04/26/1930 - 04/02/2008 SALEM - Marilyn (Zink) Sauer, 77, passed away on April 2, 2008 in Salem, Ore. She was born in Salem on April 26, 1930 to Frank Lewis and Lola Mae (Edwards) Zink, and grew up in Salem, graduating from Salem High School in 1948. For many years, Marilyn was was a child care worker at the School for the Deaf and School for the Blind in Salem. In 1976, she married Mervin Sauer and they lived for several years on acreage near Independence, Ore. In 1981, they moved to Yuma, Ariz., but usually returned to Oregon for several months each summer. They enjoyed traveling in their R.V. Marilyn also loved gardening. She was a member of the Morningside Baptist Church in Yuma. Mervin passed away in Yuma in 2006 and Marilyn returned to Salem in 2007. Marilyn is survived by her son, Gregory Smith of Salem; daughters, Sandra Smith and Sharon Runner, both of Salem; step-son, William Sauer of Lake Orion, Mich.; step-daughters, Sharon Orpwood and Linda Bohnaker, both of Portland; Carol Hillyard of Denver, Colo.; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and brothers, Donald Zink of Salem and Russell Zink of Portland. Marilyn will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who loved the Lord. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Restlawn Funeral Home, west of Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley, 4246 Turner Rd SE Salem, Ore. 97301.