The journalist's mother Jean Sawyer Hayes passed away at the age of 94 in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
- Oct 24, 2014
AceShowbiz - Diane Sawyer is mourning the death of her mother Jean Sawyer Hayes. The journalist's mother died on Wednesday, October 22 in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky at the age of 94 following an illness.
Hayes was an elementary school teacher. "Even after retiring, Jean had deep ties in her community and was adored by her large family, her students and their families," ABC News President James Goldston told his staff.
A family memorial service is scheduled to take place this weekend in Louisville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks people to make donation to scholarship fund to honor her memory.
Hayes was a force of nature, optimistic, spunky and energetic, her journalist daughter told Courier Journal in a phone interview. "Her students by the hundreds were jolted into the possibilities of their lives. She was a pioneering spirit," she added.
