Sawyer, Jean I., 95, June 17, 2013. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton.
MERRILL – Jean Isabelle Grange Sawyer, 95, passed away peacefully in her sleep June 17, at Gardiner Nursing Home. She was born March 20, 1918 in Merrill, the daughter of George A. and Jennie (Stephenson) Grange.
She graduated from Merrill High School in 1935 and attended the University of Maine where she belonged to the Phi Mu Sorority. Jean graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor’s of Science-Home Economics. On October 21, 1941 she married George R. “Tuddy” Sawyer and together they traveled while George worked for the U.S. Geological Survey before he entered the U.S. Navy. While he was in the Navy, Jean helped with her family’s farm. She worked managing the family farm for the majority of her life. After the war, Jean and George worked with her parents and eventually took over the Grange dairy and potato farm. She started tutoring, volunteering and substitute teaching in the early 1970’s at Southern Aroostook Community Schools. Beginning with her own family lineage in 1979, Jean became an avid historian, researching local towns and family lines and became a member of the Oakfield Historical Society. She was called upon to trace many family trees and town histories for the Town of Merrill and for surrounding towns and it became a hobby.
Jean was a member of the Smyrna United Methodist Church and volunteered at the Oakfield Railroad Museum. She greatly enjoyed spending time with her five patiently-awaited-for grandchildren, playing games, teaching them to cook and the long family tradition of “maple syruping”, gardening, sewing and knitting, and putting flags and flowers out for veterans at the cemeteries. Jean lived to see her six great-grandchildren ranging from 10 months to 16 years.
Jean is survived by her sons, William “Bill” H. of Palermo, George A. and Jane their children, Luke and Hannah of Sweden, Michael and Cheryl of Merrill and their children, Nathan Murphy, Dan Murphy and Melanie and Patrick; a daughter, Mary Anne of New Limerick and her children, Jennie Hare and fiancé, Thomas Schools, and Annie Hare; great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Tanner, Lily, Gavin, Liam, Autumn. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, George R.; sisters, Edna and Etta; brother, George; son-in-law, Michael Hare.
Friends called at 2-3 p.m. on Sunday, June 23 at the Smyrna/Merrill Historical Society, formerly the Smyrna United Methodist Church, where funeral services were held at 3 p.m. with Pastor Marilyn Rohdin officiating. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made to Oakfield Historical Society, c/o Alberta McDonald, P.O. Box 2, Oakfield ME 04763, to the Smyrna/Merrill Historical Society, c/o Marlene Lawlor, P.O. Box 184, Smyrna ME 04780, or the Merrill Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 239, Smyrna ME 04780. For an online guestbook to leave condolences, please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.
