Diana Marie Sawyers, age 72, of McKenzie, Tenn., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at Eiffel Gardens Assisted Living of Paris, after an extended battle with cancer.
Diana was born on May 3, 1954, in Jeffersonville, Ind., to the late Charles Ernest Prinz and the late Mabel Lauretta Alexander Prinz.
She married Bobby Kenneth Sawyers on May 3, 1980. Bobby preceded her in death on Jan. 2, 2019.
Diana was a member of Long Street Methodist Church in New Johnsonville, Tenn. She worked as the regional seafood manager for E.W. James grocery stores. Diana was an avid Tennessee Vols fan and a devoted dog lover. She enjoyed making crafts and reading, especially science fiction books. She also loved watching science fiction movies.
She is survived by one son, Billy Ted Little of Greenfield, Tenn.; one brother, Stephen (Helen) Prinz of Knoxville, Tenn.; two grandchildren, Diana Amberleigh Denise Little and Kenneth Wilson Daniel Little; one great-grandchild, Billy Bo Jack Little; and special friends: Chris Laughlin Lewis, Jackie Witherspoon and “Diana’s Angel” Brittany Stenberg.
Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St., Paris, is handling the arrangements.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Carroll Memorial Gardens in Carroll County.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Ridgeway Funeral Home.
The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff at Eiffel Gardens: Cecelia, Debbie, Marie, Holly and Patti; friends at Eiffel Gardens: Betty, Theresa, Pat, Laurie and JoAnne; and the staff at Tennessee Quality Hospice: Kayla, Amanda, Lisa and Bro. Brice Darnell.
Also, a special thank you to Diana’s longtime neighbors: Lee and Theresa Jones, and Steve Williams.