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Stan Sawyer, long-time resident of The Dalles, Ore., passed away peacefully at age 93 on Oct. 20, 2017, in Beaverton, Ore. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing. He was interred at Willamette National Cemetery with military honors.
Stan was born in Sacramento, Calif., to Shirley and Gladys Sawyer on May 3, 1924. As a young child he moved to Portland, Ore., where he resided until he graduated from Washington High School in 1942.
He then moved to The Dalles to work for his parents, who had purchased a small grocery business. Six months later, after the start of World War II, Stan enlisted in the United States Navy at 18 years of age. He served as a Radioman 3rd Class on the USS Enterprise in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Upon returning to The Dalles, Stan married his sweetheart, Shirley Spickerman, whom he had fallen in love with prior to his enlistment. They continued to live in The Dalles, where they raised their family.
Stan resumed working in the family business, Sawyer’s Ninth Street Market. Eventually he purchased the business, which over the years has expanded and changed and is now Sawyer’s True Value Hardware Store.
The business has passed through four Sawyer generations of ownership.
After retirement in 1988, Stan and Shirley continued to live in The Dalles for an additional 20 years.
During that time Stan remained involved in the family business, helping wherever he was needed. He was a part of the Sawyer family business for more than 60 years.
In 2008 Stan moved with his wife to Beaverton where he lived until his passing.
Stan enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, golfing, gardening, traveling and carpentry work. But most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family. Stan was a long-time member of Calvary Baptist Church where he served faithfully in several capacities.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley and Gladys Sawyer and his sister, Alice Davey. He is survived by his wife of over 71 years, Shirley Sawyer; children, Marilyn McCarty (Steve), Nancy Broer (John), and Warren Sawyer (Marcia); seven grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Additional survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 18 at Calvary Baptist Church in The Dalles. Following the service, a light lunch will be served. Memorial donations in Stan’s name may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship, 820 E. 3rd St, The Dalles, Oregon 97058.
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