Gene Sawyer 1922-2017
Eugene A. “Gene” Sawyer, 94, Holton, died Sunday, April 16, 2017, at Vintage Park in Holton.
He was born Aug. 31, 1922, in Hamlin, the son of Don A. and Helen M. Felmlee Sawyer. He graduated from Hamlin High School in 1940.
Mr. Sawyer served in the U.S. Army during World War II and Pacific Saipan, earning the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He lived most of his life in the Horton and Holton communities, working for E.I. DuPont from 1951 to 1980 in South Carolina and Topeka. He also worked for Ag Statistics.
He was a member of New Life Church of the Nazarene in Holton, a member of Holton VFW Post 1367 and a long-time member of Holton Masonic Lodge 42 AF&AM. He also volunteered at Holton Community Hospital.
He married Lucille E. McKim on Jan. 31, 1942, in Morrill. She died Jan. 21, 2000. He later married Edna M. Bradberry in Holton. She died Dec. 24, 2011. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Francis and Richard Sawyer.
Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Bowser and husband Allen and Terri Morris, all of Holton; two sons, Jerry Sawyer and wife Deb, Fort Collins, Colo., and Gary Sawyer and wife Janine, Holton; a stepson, Douglas Bradberry; two stepdaughters, Glenda Williams and husband Allan and Cindy Thornton and husband Larry; a sister, Rosalie Oelschlaeger, Tonganoxie; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial with military honors will follow in Morrill Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Holton Vets Club or New Life Church of the Nazarene, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.
