Kenneth V. Sawyer

Boonville - Kenneth V. Sawyer, 86, of East Schuyler Street, husband of Jeannette, passed away suddenly on Sunday, October 19, 2008, at his residence. Ken was born in Boonville on April 30, 1922, a son of Vernon A. and Harriett E. Barnes Sawyer. He grew up in Boonville, where he graduated from Boonville High School in the Class of 1940. During his high school years, he was employed at N.M. Sargent Chair Factory in Boonville. During World War II, Mr. Sawyer served in the U.S. Army as a Medic, stationed first in the United States, and then in the European Theater where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge that began in France in December of 1944. After his honorable discharge from the service, he attended and graduated from the Lewis School of Hotel Management in Virginia before managing a hotel in Quantico, Virginia. In the early 1950's, Mr. Sawyer returned to Boonville, where he was employed in all aspects of the operation of the former Layng Furniture Company, a prominent furniture business located in downtown Boonville. The Company was established in 1906 by the late Clark Layng. Following Mr Sawyer's retirement from the furniture store after 34 years of service, he was employed as a supervisor at Erwin Park in Boonville. On August 20, 1977, Mr. Sawyer was united in marriage with Jeannette Remp at the Boonville United Methodist Church. Mr. Sawyer was a member of Boonville United Methodist Church. In 1959 he joined the Boonville Lodge F&AM (now Boonville-Uriel Lodge) where he was a member for 49 years. He was also a member of Charles J. Love Post American Legion and Harland J. Hennessey Post VFW for 50 years. For the past several years he had served as Vice President of Boonville Cemetery Board of Directors. He enjoyed hunting; he was a member of Boonville Rod & Gun Club, and Tannery Tract Hunting Club. Ken was talented in music; he played tenor saxophone in the high school band, clarinet in the Boonville Village Band, and he had played in the Henry P. Smith Post American Legion (Rome) Drum and Bugle Corps, the Boonville Fire Co. Drum and Bugle Corps and the Boonville Highwaymen Drum & Bugle Corps. In addition to his wife, Jeannette, he is survived by two sisters, Anne G. Maddox, Tonawanda, and Dolores O'Brien Remp, Boonville; a brother and sister-in-law, James and Lee Sawyer, North Highland, CA; a sister-in-law, Laura Sawyer, Hinckley; and a brother-in-law, Leo E. Remp, Jr., Pulaski. He was predeceased by a brother, Bernard Sawyer, in 1992. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and one great-grandnephew of whom he was especially fond. His Funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Boonville United Methodist Church, where Rev. William A. Mudge, pastor will officiate. Interment will follow in Boonville Cemetery, where members of Charles J. Love Post American Legion, Harland J. Hennessey Post VFW, and Tun Tavern Leather Neck Marine Corps League will provide military rites. Calling hours are Tuesday 2-4 & 6-9 p.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler St. Boonville. Memorial contributions may be made to Boonville United Methodist Church.