Floyd (Leon) Sawyer

Funeral services for Leon Sawyer, 89, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. A visitation will be held one hour prior. Burial will follow the service at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City. Leon died Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Floyd “Leon” Sawyer was born August 8,1927 near Gardner, Kansas, the son of Floyd Merritt and Zula Lorretta (Larrick) Sawyer. He graduated from Edgerton Rural High School, Class of 1944.

Leon married the love of his life, Rosa Marie (Admire) Sawyer on May 3, 1947 in Edgerton, Kansas. They shared almost 70 years of marriage.

Leon served in the US Navy as a Seabee at the end of WWII in the Philippines. He returned work at the VA in Kansas City and farming until he thought he would be called up to serve in Korea. At that time, he and Marie moved to Lawrence where he began working for Coca-Cola as as route salesman and Regional Route manager.

In 1956, Leon opened Sawyer’s Texaco Service at 23rd and Barker. He closed the Texico Station in 1976 and continued to work in the auto repair industry for several more years.

Leon’s next career change led him closer to the farm when he worked for KU Housing Department as a landscape supervisor. He retired from KU, packed up the motorhome and headed to Florida.

He loved his family, traveling, his camping, fishing and boating, and the snowbird lifestyle. He had a great sense of humor and always enjoyed people.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Donald and Howard Sawyer; and great-granddaughter Emily Sawyer.

Leon is survived by his wife, Marie Sawyer; his son Duane L. Sawyer and wife Denise, of Pomona, KS; his daughter Janis E. Miskimins and husband Mike of Lawrence; his daughter Jean M. Rummer and husband Bob of Lawrence; 7 grandsons; 5 granddaughters; and 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild two sisters Junadah Kathleen Sawyer Admire, from Kerrville, TX and Dollie Jean Sawyer Moore of Baldwin, KS

Leon was a loving husband and parent, uncle, brother, grandpa and great-grandpa, and friend. He has left us with many wonderful memories that will be cherished by family and friends forever…