Mary Doherty Sadler

Dateline-Clinton, SC
Mary Doherty Sadler died peacefully at her home on January 9, 2012, surrounded by her family. She was born in Magheran, County Donegal, Ireland on April 13, 1926, and came to the United States with her parents when she was thirteen months old. Mrs. Sadler, the eldest daughter of Sara Lynch and Charles Doherty, grew up in New York City and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1944. She moved to South Carolina when she married Rufus Earle Sadler in 1947. They had six children.
Mrs. Sadler is survived by her husband, Rufus Earle Sadler, and her children: Sara Sadler Turnipseed (Bill), Julia Sadler McCrae, Virginia Sadler Suber (Andy), Nancy Doherty Sadler (Mac) and Dr. Patricia Earle Sadler (Walt). Mrs. Sadler has thirteen grandchildren: Mary Parker Turnipseed, Nancy Sadler Turnipseed, Kathleen Sadler Turnipseed, Stephen Richards McCrae (Emily), Janet Sadler McCrae, Sara Hopkins Tyer (Kevin), Catherine Hopkins Arthurs (Greg), Julia Sadler Mitchell, Evelyn Murdaugh Mitchell, David Carl Mitchell Jr., Walter Moorhead Hughes, Virginia Bradley Hughes and Caroline Sadler Hughes, and five great-grandchildren; Madeline McCrae, Julia McCrae, Owen Tyer, Sadler Tyer and William Arthurs. Her brother, Vincent Doherty, and his wife Helen also survive his sister. She is predeceased by her infant daughter, Mary Bradley Sadler, as well as her brother, Joe Doherty, and sister, Patricia Doherty Cashman.
Mrs. Sadler loved life. She was married to Mr. Sadler for 64 years, and with him, supported and loved the Navy, USC and Sadler-Hughes Pharmacy. They travelled all over the world together and with their family, they met many new friends, and visited Ireland as often as possible to catch up with her relatives. Pawley’s Island was one of her favorite places in the world, especially when surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Sadler was an active participant in our community, who led the local effort for water fluoridation, hearing tests and vaccines for elementary students. She was an active member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, where she taught CCD for many years, among many other volunteer activities.
Mrs. Sadler was a proud member of the Clinton Cotillion Club, the Actaeon Club and her bridge clubs. A member of the Hard Core, she loved to dance the night away. Always the gracious hostess and guest, she loved the comraderie of her friends. Mrs. Sadler was a consummate feminist who was very supportive of her daughters’ education and careers and was always available to care for her grandchildren to allow her daughters to meet various professional obligations.
A talented and creative artist, painting was a special pastime for her. Mrs. Sadler’s watercolors hang in the homes of all of her children and portraits of all of her grandchildren line the walls in her home. Over the course of her life, she was also a zookeeper, allowing her children to bring home dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs, birds, the occasional snake and baby mice (which had to be returned).
Mrs. Sadler provided a welcoming home for all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who knew her as Bat. She presided over this past Christmas gathering as she did every year. She was greatly loved and will be missed by so many.
Funeral mass will be conducted Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 12 noon in St. Boniface Catholic Church in Joanna with interment in Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Clinton.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Laurens County, P. O. Box 178, Clinton, SC 29325.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grayfuneralhome.com
Gray Funeral Home of Clinton is serving the family.