Sarah Catharine (Buckingham) Ayers, age 86 of Prairie City, passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Private family funeral services will be held on Monday, February 8, 2021. A visitation will take place on Sunday, February 7, 2021 from 2:00 - 6:00 pm at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City. The family will be present from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Memorials may be directed to the Food Bank of Iowa and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com Sarah was born on September 1, 1934, in rural Logan County near Sterling, Colorado to Elsie Dean and Irvin Amos Buckingham. She moved back to Iowa to the Buckingham family farm when she was two and was Grandpa William I. Buckingham's buddy. She graduated from Prairie City Community School in 1952. She was united in marriage to John E. Ayers in April 1956 and they had five children. She was a lifelong member of Prairie City Church of the Brethren, where she was active in the church in Women's Fellowship, a Sunday school teacher, Bible study class, Kitchen/funeral and sale committee, and a life Deacon. She held different jobs throughout her life and retired as a home health aide in Jasper County. Her family was very important to her and her main focus in life. She frequently had Sunday dinners after church where her family gathered around her. She loved her annual "Family Camp" where she went with her family to a campground in Iowa for a weekend to eat and spend time together in nature. She was an avid gardener, reader, and quilter. She also enjoyed listening to music, especially Gospel. She had a good sense of humor and a zest for life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Irvin and E. Dean (Webb) Buckingham; her siblings, Edna Keller and her husband, George, Warren Buckingham and his wife Blanche, David Clinton Buckingham and his wife Vesta, WIlliam Buckingham and his wife Nina and Samuel Buckingham and his daughters, Claudia and Barbara and her great grandson, Logan Ayers. Sarah is survived by her children, Sarah Lea O'Dell (Matt Lehman), Dean (Bev) Ayers, Mark Ayers, Becky (Ron) Johnson, and Vicky (Darwin) Maggard; her sister, Betty Jo Buckingham and several grandchildren, Matthew (Emily) Ayers, Dana (Chance) Cockrell, Julie (Dusty) Little, Tracie (Bryce) Van Wyngarden, Jessica Reha, James Maggard, Isabelle Johnson, Tristan Johnson, Gavin Johnson, Boone Ayers and great grandchildren, Sydnie Martinache, Bo Van Wyngarden, Luke Van Wyngarden, Walker Reha, Emma Reha, Veda Ayers, Dane Ayers, Isaiah Cockrell and Everly Ayers.

Visitation

Coburn Funeral Home of Prairie City 201 S. Marshall Prairie City, IA 50228 The family will be present from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Service

Prairie City Church of the Brethren 12015 Hwy F70 W Prairie City, Iowa 50228 Private Family Service.