In 1953, while still attending Berkley High School, Bill was hired by the funeral home to help on ambulance runs, cut the grass, paint the building, and assist with funerals. Bill left the funeral home for a few years when he joined the U.S. Navy, working as an electrician. After three years in the Navy, he returned to Michigan and resumed working at the funeral home while attending college and then Mortuary School. Once he received his license in 1965, he became full-time staff member at the funeral home. Ten years later he purchased the business from the Sawyers, and was president of Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home until his retirement from day-to-day activities in 2022.
Yvonne Louise Fuller, age 87 of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on June 7, 2024. Yvonne was born on January 25, 1937, in Ferndale, Michigan, to Edward and Ileene Sawyer.
Yvonne, lovingly known as Evie, was raised a Berkley girl. She took great pride in her time as a spirited baton-twirling majorette at Berkley High School, known for her grace and enthusiasm. It was at Berkley High, that she met the love of her life, William “Bill” Fuller Jr. The high school sweethearts married and embarked on their journey filled with love and adventure. Shortly after their marriage, they welcomed their treasured daughter, Halye Jean Fuller into their lives. Yvonne and Halye shared an extraordinary bond, remaining incredibly close throughout the years.
Yvonne had many passions, joys, and loves in life. She and Bill found joy and excitement in their shared passion for skiing. Their adventures took them to the snowy slopes of Vermont and Colorado, where they honed their skills and created lasting memories.
Summers were spent on the waters of the Great Lakes aboard their beloved family boat, affectionately named Eve’s Eden. As Bill’s first mate, Yvonne embraced the adventures with the Sea Raiders, a group of boating enthusiasts, who explored the vast waters of the Great Lakes together. Their maritime journeys eventually led them to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where they continued their boating escapades making countless cherished memories and friends.
Passionate about flower arranging, Yvonne turned her love for flowers from a hobby into a flourishing business by opening her own flower store in Berkley. She proudly ran The Flower Cart and cherished all those who worked with her there over the years.
Foremost among her passions was the love she held for her family. She remained very close to her parents and brother, even as she built her own family.
When Halye married Ron Bernstein, he immediately became a true member of the family, never just a son-in-law but always a son. Ron and Halye blessed Yvonne with four grandsons who quickly became the focus of her life. She cherished her visits with them in Colorado or at their cottage, spending idyllic summer days on Lake Arrowhead. To her grandsons, she was always "Grammie" and they adored her deeply. In recent years Grammie was delighted to be promoted to Great-Grammie with the arrival of her great-grandchildren, Abigail, Millie, Clara, and Logan. Her two granddaughters who married into the family were embraced with a strong and heartfelt love, once again never granddaughters-in-law but granddaughters.
Yvonne was a kind, devoted, and sweet human being who always saw the best in everyone she met. She never got angry, never spoke a bad word about anyone, and always made her home open to everyone who walked through her door. She was an angel on earth and now has earned her angel status in heaven. Her life was like the lyrics to the song, "To know her was to love her." She will forever be in our hearts, and her memory will always warm our souls.
Yvonne is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years, William Fuller Jr., her beloved daughter, Halye (Ron) Bernstein, her grandkids, William Bernstein, Ryan (Lindsay) Bernstein, Tyler (Lisa) Bernstein, and Taylor Bernstein and her great-grandchildren, Abigail, Clara, Millie, and Logan. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Stanley Sawyer. The family finds solace in knowing that she is at peace, embarking on her next adventure. We love you, Grammie.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Yvonne's memory to The Michigan Humane Society.
Tyler is the grandson of Bill and Yvonne Fuller. He began working at the funeral home in January of 2016. He graduated summa cum laude with an associate’s degree in science from Oakland Community College and graduated from the Wayne State University Mortuary Program in 2018. He lives in Madison Heights with his wife, Lisa, and their son, Logan, and they enjoy hiking, canoeing, and exploring the outdoors. He is excited to be part of such a significant aspect of his family’s history and to keep the family business serving the community.
Pete was born in Pusan, South Korea, and moved to Michigan with his family in 1993. He graduated from Tawas Area High school in 2001. After graduation, he attended Wayne State University, where in three years he received his Bachelor's Degree in Mortuary Science. In 2005, a year after graduating, he began working at Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home and was promoted to Manager in 2023. He also is a Free & Accepted Mason, Berkley Lodge 536. Married to his wife, Monica, they care for three dogs, Tuon, Dozer, and Izzy and five cats, Chloe, Vin, Vasher, Kaladin, and Sarene. In their freetime, they enjoy spending time in the outdoors, camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, and playing with their animals. He is also a volunteer with the Do Only Good Animal Rescue, which assists in getting dogs at Oakland County Animal Shelter adopted.
Tom received his mortuary license in 1984, a year after graduating from Wayne State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Mortuary Science. Tom is an unwavering supporter of the Maize and Blue, and on Saturdays in the fall, if he is not at work, he is sure to be watching the Wolverines. He is married to his wife, JoAnne and is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Knights of Columbus, where he is able to actively engage with other members of the community. Tom's experience and likeable personality has been an asset to Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home since he began working there in 2005.
Mike graduated from North Branch High school in 1984. For two years after high school, he attended pre-mortuary school at Ferris State University. From Ferris, he went to Wayne State University to obtain his mortuary science degree. In 1988, after a one year apprenticeship, Mike officially received his license and moved to the east side of Detroit where he worked as a funeral director for 20 years. He joined Sawyer-Fuller Funeral Home in 2008, where he has been a valuable member ever since. He is a member of the Lions Club, and he enjoys golfing, playing cards, and fishing. To Mike there is nothing more important than spending time with his family--wife, Lori, and son, Eric, who recently graduated from Illinois State University.
Ardi moved to Michigan in May of 1999 from the former Yugoslavia. He worked for Lutheran Social Services while continuing his education. In 2004, he graduated from Wayne State University and received a Bachelor's Degree in Mortuary Science. He worked for almost 10 years at funeral homes in Macomb County before joining the staff Sawyer Fuller Funeral Home in 2013. During the years, he has helped many different communities from Eastern Europe and the US. He is married to his wife, Lily, daughter, Ariana, and son, Alexander. Ardian loves soccer, playing the guitar, and reading. He, Lily, Ariana, and Alexander are active members of St. Paul Albanians Catholic Church -Rochester Hills. He is fluent in English, Albanian, Serbian, and Croatian.