Deanna Carolyn Saffles, “Grandma Dee”, passed away peacefully in her family home on Thursday, June 18, 2021, just 2 days before her 78th birthday.

She was born June 20, 1943 in Painesville, Oh. to Alfred and Helen McCoy. She met the love of her life, George Howard Saffles, in Painesville at Harvey High School, where she graduated on June 8, 1961, her birthday.

She married George in 1963 and was a devoted and loyal bride for 52 years of marriage until her death in 2015. Deanna was also the loving mother of three daughters: Kimberly, Tina and Carrie. She was known as the grandmother Dee of Renie Crabson Pedigo, Holly Jo Miller, Analise Bilbao and Ethan Bilbao. She was also the great-grandmother of Greyson and Caroline Pedigo.

Deanna and George moved to Cleveland around 1979, where she began a career that spanned more than 25 years with K-mart. Deanna ended her career as the manager of a Kmart store in Fort. Lauderdale, Florida She and George returned to Cleveland for the remaining years of their lives.

Deanna Carolyn Saffles was known as a woman of loyalty, love and dedication to all who had the joy of knowing her. She was devoted to her husband, family and friends. She especially enjoyed her friendship with Naomi Saffles, her sister-in-law. You just couldn’t find a better friend than Deanna! Dee was a woman with “… cold hands, but a warm heart.” She had a “green thumb” and loved to grow flowers to surround her home with the beauty of God’s creation.

She confessed her hope in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of her life and has faithfully attended Valley View Baptist Church for the past several years, as her health permitted.

Deanna was predeceased by her parents, Alfred and Helen McCoy; her husband, George Howard Saffles; his daughter, Tina N. Miller (Bruce); and his brothers-in-law, RD “Cub” Saffles and Glenn Elmer Saffles.

She is survived by her two daughters, Kimberly Varner (Michael) and Carrie Bilbao (Steve), both of Cleveland; her grandchildren, Renie Pedigo (Tara), Holly Jo Miller, Analise Bilbao and Ethan Bilbao; his great-grandchildren, Greyson and Caroline Pedigo, all of Cleveland; her sisters-in-law, Naomi Saffles and Melba Saffles, of Cleveland; and several nieces and nephews by marriage, Doug Saffles, Karen Slater (Ron), Manette Saffles, Angela Holloway, Tony Saffles and Greg Saffles.

Visitations will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the funeral will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 21 at the Companion Funeral Home, with her son-in-law, Mike Varner, officiating. Interment will follow on Tuesday June 22 at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with Tony Saffles, Greg Saffles, Ethan Bilbao, Matthew Varner, Steve Bilbao and Mike Varner as porters.