HUNTSBURG TWP. – Cyrene Marie Zion (nee Gaynor) passed away in her home in Huntsburg Township on Sept. 27, 2018.
Cy was born March 27, 1928, to John and Nellie Gaynor, in Footville, Ohio. Born and raised in Trumbull Township, her family eventually moved to Jefferson, where she graduated in 1946.
Cy earned her LPN and worked at Corey Clinic in Chardon until her marriage to Homer Zion in 1956. She and Homer had three children along with Homer’s older daughter Heidi.
In 1971, Cy became the first woman state inspector for the Ohio Department of Agriculture under the Gilligan administration. She was very proud of this role and worked hard as she managed inspections for many bakeries and other businesses in seven Northeast Ohio counties.
In 1988, she was promoted to Supervisor and her territory expanded with seven inspectors reporting to her in about 27 counties. Cy retired in 1998 after 27 years of service.
Cy was a staunch Democrat her entire life and was very involved in the Geauga County Democratic Party for many years. In more recent times, she had been a precinct committeewoman for Huntsburg.
In earlier days, she helped organize summer picnics and fall clambakes for the Democratic Party.
Cy played BUNCO with a group of local women for more than 50 years. She also enjoyed helping in the agriculture barns during The Great Geauga County Fair each summer.
She judged baked goods at the Huntsburg Pumpkin Festival and she remained very active in her retirement years, refusing to slow down.
Cy loved her family deeply and enjoyed hosting many holiday and family get-togethers. She had a true servant’s heart and no one was ever turned away from a meal or cup of coffee if they came to visit. She was well loved and well respected by her family, friends and neighbors.
Cy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Homer, in 2002; sister, Mary Elizabeth Dalton; brothers, John and Theodore Gaynor; daughter-in law, Sue Zion; and granddaughter Allison Mittower.
She is survived by children, Heidi (Roger) Schad, Homer (Debra) Zion Jr., Terrance Zion and Abby (James) Fishel; grandchildren Cindy (Adam) Pratt, Kristen (Chad) Bass, Gary Schad, Jen Mittower, Heather (Matt) Sparks, Kristen (Andrew) Pool, Emily (Guille) Rodriguez, Nathan (Kathleen) Zion, Geoffrey (Stacey) Zion, James Fishel II, and Lauren Fishel; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by a host of Gaynor and Zion nieces and nephews and friends, too numerous to name.
The family received friends Sept. 30, 2018, at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South St., Chardon, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., and will receive them Oct. 1, 2018, from 10-11 a.m., with the funeral service beginning at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Huntsburg Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Red Tulip Project of Geauga, P.O. Box 322, East Claridon, OH 44033 or the American Legion, Burton Post, 14052 Goodwin Street, Burton, OH 44021.
Information and condolences on line at www.burrservice.com.