Deanna Carolyn Saffles, “Grandma Dee”, died peacefully in her home among her family on Thursday, June 18, 2021—just 2 days before her 78th birthday.
She was born on June 20, 1943 in Painesville, Oh. to Alfred and Helen McCoy. She met the love of her life, George Howard Saffles, in Painesville at Harvey High School, where she graduated on the 8th of June in 1961—his birthday.
She married George in 1963 and was a devoted and faithful wife for 52 years of matrimony until his death in 2015. Deanna was also the loving mother to three daughters: Kimberly, Tina and Carrie. She was known as Grandma Dee to Renie Crabson Pedigo, Holly Jo Miller, Analise Bilbao, and Ethan Bilbao. She was also great-grandma to Greyson and Caroline Pedigo.
Deanna and George moved to Cleveland around 1979, where she began a career that lasted over 25 years with K-mart. Deanna finished her career as a manager of a Kmart store in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. She and George moved back to Cleveland for the remaining years of their life.
Deanna Carolyn Saffles was known as a woman of loyalty, love and devotion to everyone who had the joy of knowing her. She was devoted to her husband, family and friends. She especially enjoyed her friendship with Naomi Saffles, her sister-in-law. You simply could not find a better friend than Deanna! Dee was a woman with “…cold hands, but a warm heart.” She had a “green thumb” and loved to cultivate flowers to surround her home with the beauty of God’s creation.
She confessed her hope in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of her life and faithfully attended Valley View Baptist Church over the past few years as her health allowed.
Deanna was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Helen McCoy; her husband, George Howard Saffles; her daughter, Tina N. Miller (Bruce); and her brothers-in-law, RD “Cub” Saffles and Glenn Elmer Saffles.
She is survived by her two daughters, Kimberly Varner (Michael) and Carrie Bilbao (Steve), both of Cleveland; her grandchildren, Renie Pedigo (Tara), Holly Jo Miller, Analise Bilbao and Ethan Bilbao; her great-grandchildren, Greyson and Caroline Pedigo, all of Cleveland; her sisters-in-law, Naomi Saffles and Melba Saffles, of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews by marriage, Doug Saffles, Karen Slater (Ron), Manette Saffles, Angela Holloway, Tony Saffles and Greg Saffles.
Visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m., with the funeral to begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 21 at Companion Funeral Home, with her son-in-law, Mike Varner, officiating. Interment will follow on Tuesday, June 22 at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with Tony Saffles, Greg Saffles, Ethan Bilbao, Matthew Varner, Steve Bilbao and Mike Varner as pallbearers.