Obituary for Constance "Connie" L. (Sawyer) Bennett

Constance “Connie” Louise Bennett, age 79, of Portland, passed away on Saturday, February 4, 2023. She was born on October 28, 1943, in Portland the daughter of Robert and Cleda (Brown) Sawyer. Connie graduated from Portland High School Class of 1961. Connie was an avid knitter and enjoyed making sweater sets for all the new babies, she just finished a sweater a week before she was hospitalized and knitted so much more. Connie also decorated wedding, birthday and many different cakes for many years. She was active in 4H as a child, showing horses and cattle and she participated in other 4H clubs. She was a 4H leader for 45 years, teaching knitting, cooking, ceramics, and crafts classes to so many kids and she enjoyed every minute of it. Connie loved to bake and cook for family, friends and neighbors, everybody loved her homemade caramel corn and peanut brittle that she made for years for Christmas gifts, as she did this last Christmas just before she had gotten sick. Connie worked at the Corner Landing for more than 35 years making many new friends along the way. She loved her family tremendously, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Carol Lakin; brothers, Donny and Bruce Sawyer; and nephew, Darren Babbitt. Surviving are her children, Denny (Kistra) Bennett, Greg (Michelle) Bennett, Kelly (Jerry) Dennis, and Jeff Bennett; grandchildren, Samantha (Bill) Crawford, Makayla (Jordan) Bennett, Elisha Bennett, Hayden Dennis, and Ruby Bennett; great-grandchildren, Charleigh and Wyatt Crawford and Brooks Scott; siblings, Noel Babbitt, Becky (Tod) Sims, Tom (Deb) Sawyer, Lonnie (Rosalee) Sawyer; brother-in-law, Roger Lakin; and several nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Service will be conducted by Rev. Bob Beckett at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 10, 2023 at the Lehman Funeral Home, 210 E. Bridge Street, Portland. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will follow the funeral service at Portland Cemetery. A luncheon will follow interment at the Wagon Wheel American Grill, Portland. Memorial contributions may be made towards renovations of the Floral Building at the Ionia Free Fair grounds in memory of Connie. The pallbearers will be Connie’s nephews, Dan Babbitt, Tim Lakin, Rick Manshum, Ron Manshum, Randy Manshum, Trevor Sawyer, Richie Cook, and Patrick Nurenberg. Online condolences may be made at wwwlehmanfuneralhomes.com.