My Daddy, my hero, my rock.
Called "Shep" by friends and family. Son of Louis Shelton Sawyer, Sr. and Nell Watson Sawyer of Johnston, SC. Married to his lifelong love, Katherine Bland Sawyer of Johnston, SC, from June 12, 1948 until his death in 2001. Devoted father of Louis Shelton Sawyer, III of Atlanta, GA, and Katherine Sawyer Bailey of Spartanburg, SC. Loving grandfather to his three grandchildren, Elizabeth Jeffries Cooner, Sarah Katherine Cooner, and William Shelton Cooner of Spartanburg, SC. He was pre-deceased by one sister, Ruth Sawyer Day of Trenton, SC, and at the time of his death, three sisters were living; Inez Sawyer Granger of Columbia, SC, Lois Sawyer Stembridge of Tryon, NC, and Jewell Sawyer Spitz, of Anderson, SC.; however, all of the siblings are now deceased. They all died within three years of each other. He attended Furman University, the University of South Carolina, and The Citadel. He was the owner of Sawyer Opticians in Columbia, SC, where he resided until his death.
Shep died at age 76 as a result of radiation to his lungs (pulmonary fibrosis). He had survived a rare form of bone cancer and had his left femur replaced with a steel rod. As a precaution, doctors ordered radiation to his lungs, which eventually crystallized them. They said the chance of this was extremely remote, but he died anyway much to the heartbreak of everyone. He was diagnosed with cancer March 20, 2001, and died six months to the day later.
Daddy was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and camping in their RV. He was a 40-year member of the Columbia-Sumter Hunt Club where he spent many years helping preserve the beauty of the Wateree Swamp in South Carolina. He and his best friend and neighbor, John Hensel of Columbia, SC, spent many years hunting and fishing together in the swamp. They knew the area so well that one year when a man was lost in the swamp, officials asked Daddy and John to lead them into the back woods from which even tracking dogs could not emerge. The swamp was his place of peace, respite, and rejuvenation. Members of the Hunt Club were honorary pallbearers at his funeral.
Daddy was a World War II veteran having served in the Pacific Theater from 1942 until 1946. He, like most men of his generation, seldom spoke of the war. Only in his final years did he reveal more. When he was 19, his life was saved by a pilot he never knew or got to thank. Daddy was driving a truck alone down a road in the Philippines, and the pilot kept flying his plane back and forth over him. Later he learned Japanese soldiers were waiting in ambush in the surrounding fields, but they were never able to attack him because of the courage of this pilot. Whoever you are, sir, I thank you for his life, my life, and the lives of my children.
A lasting memory that I have of Daddy was one that he recalled a few days before he died. When I was five years old, he took me out trick-or-treating during a pouring rainstorm, piggyback. I have never forgotten that. He asked me if remembered that night, and my response was, "It's one of my best memories of my life." Thank you, Daddy, for taking me. He then had a dream and assured me that all of our pets would be in heaven with him. I hope he was right.
In my eyes, Daddy could do anything. He was a marksman with a gun and an excellent fisherman. He could make a terrific "catfish stew" and the best scrambled eggs anywhere. Daddy loved animals, especially our dogs and cats, and he taught us to respect and treat all animals with kindness and affection. Adding a little bean juice or a special treat to our dog's supper was a nightly routine. He could fix anything in the house and put my fears to rest. Whenever I left the house, his last words were, "Do you need money?" and "Be careful. Call me if you need me."
We owned a lake house near Columbia, SC, where we spent many happy years sailing, fishing, and water skiing with family and friends. Oh, how he did love his Cris Craft boat, the Osprey! He told me he would find us another lake house in heaven where we would all meet again. Daddy, have you found it yet? Are John and Mary there with you? We'll need a pretty big boat for us all. After Daddy retired in 1990, he and Mama spent their time traveling and camping in their RV. They met a new circle of retirees from all over the U.S., whose company and friendship they enjoyed greatly. One RV campground in the North Carolina mountains, River Bend, named its annual golf tournament the Shep Sawyer Golf Tournament in his honor.
He loved my mother unconditionally his entire life. They grew up in the same small town of Johnston, SC, even on the same street. They met when they were ten years old, and the first time Daddy proposed to Mama was on her 13th birthday. He gave her a compact, which she still has, and a ring the next year, which I still have. Ten years later after college and a WWII tour overseas, they married and remained married for 53 years. As Daddy passed away, he opened his eyes one last time to see my mother's face. Theirs was a truly great love story.
When Daddy found out he could not recover from his illness, the one thought that comforted him was that he would soon see his parents who both died in 1961 when he was only 36. I truly believe in my heart the family is together once again.
Although he wasn't at church every time the doors opened, Daddy was a man of tremendous faith. He had a very personal relationship with God, and when he needed spiritual guidance, he turned to the Lord. He trusted God with his heart and soul and conversed with him at length quite often. Because of his faith, I know the Lord welcomed Daddy into heaven with loving arms.
My life has never been, nor will it ever be, the same without him. I miss him every day.
Called "Shep" by friends and family. Son of Louis Shelton Sawyer, Sr. and Nell Watson Sawyer of Johnston, SC. Married to his lifelong love, Katherine Bland Sawyer of Johnston, SC, from June 12, 1948 until his death in 2001. Devoted father of Louis Shelton Sawyer, III of Atlanta, GA, and Katherine Sawyer Bailey of Spartanburg, SC. Loving grandfather to his three grandchildren, Elizabeth Jeffries Cooner, Sarah Katherine Cooner, and William Shelton Cooner of Spartanburg, SC. He was pre-deceased by one sister, Ruth Sawyer Day of Trenton, SC, and at the time of his death, three sisters were living; Inez Sawyer Granger of Columbia, SC, Lois Sawyer Stembridge of Tryon, NC, and Jewell Sawyer Spitz, of Anderson, SC.; however, all of the siblings are now deceased. They all died within three years of each other. He attended Furman University, the University of South Carolina, and The Citadel. He was the owner of Sawyer Opticians in Columbia, SC, where he resided until his death.
Shep died at age 76 as a result of radiation to his lungs (pulmonary fibrosis). He had survived a rare form of bone cancer and had his left femur replaced with a steel rod. As a precaution, doctors ordered radiation to his lungs, which eventually crystallized them. They said the chance of this was extremely remote, but he died anyway much to the heartbreak of everyone. He was diagnosed with cancer March 20, 2001, and died six months to the day later.
Daddy was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and camping in their RV. He was a 40-year member of the Columbia-Sumter Hunt Club where he spent many years helping preserve the beauty of the Wateree Swamp in South Carolina. He and his best friend and neighbor, John Hensel of Columbia, SC, spent many years hunting and fishing together in the swamp. They knew the area so well that one year when a man was lost in the swamp, officials asked Daddy and John to lead them into the back woods from which even tracking dogs could not emerge. The swamp was his place of peace, respite, and rejuvenation. Members of the Hunt Club were honorary pallbearers at his funeral.
Daddy was a World War II veteran having served in the Pacific Theater from 1942 until 1946. He, like most men of his generation, seldom spoke of the war. Only in his final years did he reveal more. When he was 19, his life was saved by a pilot he never knew or got to thank. Daddy was driving a truck alone down a road in the Philippines, and the pilot kept flying his plane back and forth over him. Later he learned Japanese soldiers were waiting in ambush in the surrounding fields, but they were never able to attack him because of the courage of this pilot. Whoever you are, sir, I thank you for his life, my life, and the lives of my children.
A lasting memory that I have of Daddy was one that he recalled a few days before he died. When I was five years old, he took me out trick-or-treating during a pouring rainstorm, piggyback. I have never forgotten that. He asked me if remembered that night, and my response was, "It's one of my best memories of my life." Thank you, Daddy, for taking me. He then had a dream and assured me that all of our pets would be in heaven with him. I hope he was right.
In my eyes, Daddy could do anything. He was a marksman with a gun and an excellent fisherman. He could make a terrific "catfish stew" and the best scrambled eggs anywhere. Daddy loved animals, especially our dogs and cats, and he taught us to respect and treat all animals with kindness and affection. Adding a little bean juice or a special treat to our dog's supper was a nightly routine. He could fix anything in the house and put my fears to rest. Whenever I left the house, his last words were, "Do you need money?" and "Be careful. Call me if you need me."
We owned a lake house near Columbia, SC, where we spent many happy years sailing, fishing, and water skiing with family and friends. Oh, how he did love his Cris Craft boat, the Osprey! He told me he would find us another lake house in heaven where we would all meet again. Daddy, have you found it yet? Are John and Mary there with you? We'll need a pretty big boat for us all. After Daddy retired in 1990, he and Mama spent their time traveling and camping in their RV. They met a new circle of retirees from all over the U.S., whose company and friendship they enjoyed greatly. One RV campground in the North Carolina mountains, River Bend, named its annual golf tournament the Shep Sawyer Golf Tournament in his honor.
He loved my mother unconditionally his entire life. They grew up in the same small town of Johnston, SC, even on the same street. They met when they were ten years old, and the first time Daddy proposed to Mama was on her 13th birthday. He gave her a compact, which she still has, and a ring the next year, which I still have. Ten years later after college and a WWII tour overseas, they married and remained married for 53 years. As Daddy passed away, he opened his eyes one last time to see my mother's face. Theirs was a truly great love story.
When Daddy found out he could not recover from his illness, the one thought that comforted him was that he would soon see his parents who both died in 1961 when he was only 36. I truly believe in my heart the family is together once again.
Although he wasn't at church every time the doors opened, Daddy was a man of tremendous faith. He had a very personal relationship with God, and when he needed spiritual guidance, he turned to the Lord. He trusted God with his heart and soul and conversed with him at length quite often. Because of his faith, I know the Lord welcomed Daddy into heaven with loving arms.
My life has never been, nor will it ever be, the same without him. I miss him every day.
My Daddy, my hero, my rock.
Called "Shep" by friends and family. Son of Louis Shelton Sawyer, Sr. and Nell Watson Sawyer of Johnston, SC. Married to his lifelong love, Katherine Bland Sawyer of Johnston, SC, from June 12, 1948 until his death in 2001. Devoted father of Louis Shelton Sawyer, III of Atlanta, GA, and Katherine Sawyer Bailey of Spartanburg, SC. Loving grandfather to his three grandchildren, Elizabeth Jeffries Cooner, Sarah Katherine Cooner, and William Shelton Cooner of Spartanburg, SC. He was pre-deceased by one sister, Ruth Sawyer Day of Trenton, SC, and at the time of his death, three sisters were living; Inez Sawyer Granger of Columbia, SC, Lois Sawyer Stembridge of Tryon, NC, and Jewell Sawyer Spitz, of Anderson, SC.; however, all of the siblings are now deceased. They all died within three years of each other. He attended Furman University, the University of South Carolina, and The Citadel. He was the owner of Sawyer Opticians in Columbia, SC, where he resided until his death.
Shep died at age 76 as a result of radiation to his lungs (pulmonary fibrosis). He had survived a rare form of bone cancer and had his left femur replaced with a steel rod. As a precaution, doctors ordered radiation to his lungs, which eventually crystallized them. They said the chance of this was extremely remote, but he died anyway much to the heartbreak of everyone. He was diagnosed with cancer March 20, 2001, and died six months to the day later.
Daddy was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and camping in their RV. He was a 40-year member of the Columbia-Sumter Hunt Club where he spent many years helping preserve the beauty of the Wateree Swamp in South Carolina. He and his best friend and neighbor, John Hensel of Columbia, SC, spent many years hunting and fishing together in the swamp. They knew the area so well that one year when a man was lost in the swamp, officials asked Daddy and John to lead them into the back woods from which even tracking dogs could not emerge. The swamp was his place of peace, respite, and rejuvenation. Members of the Hunt Club were honorary pallbearers at his funeral.
Daddy was a World War II veteran having served in the Pacific Theater from 1942 until 1946. He, like most men of his generation, seldom spoke of the war. Only in his final years did he reveal more. When he was 19, his life was saved by a pilot he never knew or got to thank. Daddy was driving a truck alone down a road in the Philippines, and the pilot kept flying his plane back and forth over him. Later he learned Japanese soldiers were waiting in ambush in the surrounding fields, but they were never able to attack him because of the courage of this pilot. Whoever you are, sir, I thank you for his life, my life, and the lives of my children.
A lasting memory that I have of Daddy was one that he recalled a few days before he died. When I was five years old, he took me out trick-or-treating during a pouring rainstorm, piggyback. I have never forgotten that. He asked me if remembered that night, and my response was, "It's one of my best memories of my life." Thank you, Daddy, for taking me. He then had a dream and assured me that all of our pets would be in heaven with him. I hope he was right.
In my eyes, Daddy could do anything. He was a marksman with a gun and an excellent fisherman. He could make a terrific "catfish stew" and the best scrambled eggs anywhere. Daddy loved animals, especially our dogs and cats, and he taught us to respect and treat all animals with kindness and affection. Adding a little bean juice or a special treat to our dog's supper was a nightly routine. He could fix anything in the house and put my fears to rest. Whenever I left the house, his last words were, "Do you need money?" and "Be careful. Call me if you need me."
We owned a lake house near Columbia, SC, where we spent many happy years sailing, fishing, and water skiing with family and friends. Oh, how he did love his Cris Craft boat, the Osprey! He told me he would find us another lake house in heaven where we would all meet again. Daddy, have you found it yet? Are John and Mary there with you? We'll need a pretty big boat for us all. After Daddy retired in 1990, he and Mama spent their time traveling and camping in their RV. They met a new circle of retirees from all over the U.S., whose company and friendship they enjoyed greatly. One RV campground in the North Carolina mountains, River Bend, named its annual golf tournament the Shep Sawyer Golf Tournament in his honor.
He loved my mother unconditionally his entire life. They grew up in the same small town of Johnston, SC, even on the same street. They met when they were ten years old, and the first time Daddy proposed to Mama was on her 13th birthday. He gave her a compact, which she still has, and a ring the next year, which I still have. Ten years later after college and a WWII tour overseas, they married and remained married for 53 years. As Daddy passed away, he opened his eyes one last time to see my mother's face. Theirs was a truly great love story.
When Daddy found out he could not recover from his illness, the one thought that comforted him was that he would soon see his parents who both died in 1961 when he was only 36. I truly believe in my heart the family is together once again.
Although he wasn't at church every time the doors opened, Daddy was a man of tremendous faith. He had a very personal relationship with God, and when he needed spiritual guidance, he turned to the Lord. He trusted God with his heart and soul and conversed with him at length quite often. Because of his faith, I know the Lord welcomed Daddy into heaven with loving arms.
My life has never been, nor will it ever be, the same without him. I miss him every day.
Called "Shep" by friends and family. Son of Louis Shelton Sawyer, Sr. and Nell Watson Sawyer of Johnston, SC. Married to his lifelong love, Katherine Bland Sawyer of Johnston, SC, from June 12, 1948 until his death in 2001. Devoted father of Louis Shelton Sawyer, III of Atlanta, GA, and Katherine Sawyer Bailey of Spartanburg, SC. Loving grandfather to his three grandchildren, Elizabeth Jeffries Cooner, Sarah Katherine Cooner, and William Shelton Cooner of Spartanburg, SC. He was pre-deceased by one sister, Ruth Sawyer Day of Trenton, SC, and at the time of his death, three sisters were living; Inez Sawyer Granger of Columbia, SC, Lois Sawyer Stembridge of Tryon, NC, and Jewell Sawyer Spitz, of Anderson, SC.; however, all of the siblings are now deceased. They all died within three years of each other. He attended Furman University, the University of South Carolina, and The Citadel. He was the owner of Sawyer Opticians in Columbia, SC, where he resided until his death.
Shep died at age 76 as a result of radiation to his lungs (pulmonary fibrosis). He had survived a rare form of bone cancer and had his left femur replaced with a steel rod. As a precaution, doctors ordered radiation to his lungs, which eventually crystallized them. They said the chance of this was extremely remote, but he died anyway much to the heartbreak of everyone. He was diagnosed with cancer March 20, 2001, and died six months to the day later.
Daddy was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and camping in their RV. He was a 40-year member of the Columbia-Sumter Hunt Club where he spent many years helping preserve the beauty of the Wateree Swamp in South Carolina. He and his best friend and neighbor, John Hensel of Columbia, SC, spent many years hunting and fishing together in the swamp. They knew the area so well that one year when a man was lost in the swamp, officials asked Daddy and John to lead them into the back woods from which even tracking dogs could not emerge. The swamp was his place of peace, respite, and rejuvenation. Members of the Hunt Club were honorary pallbearers at his funeral.
Daddy was a World War II veteran having served in the Pacific Theater from 1942 until 1946. He, like most men of his generation, seldom spoke of the war. Only in his final years did he reveal more. When he was 19, his life was saved by a pilot he never knew or got to thank. Daddy was driving a truck alone down a road in the Philippines, and the pilot kept flying his plane back and forth over him. Later he learned Japanese soldiers were waiting in ambush in the surrounding fields, but they were never able to attack him because of the courage of this pilot. Whoever you are, sir, I thank you for his life, my life, and the lives of my children.
A lasting memory that I have of Daddy was one that he recalled a few days before he died. When I was five years old, he took me out trick-or-treating during a pouring rainstorm, piggyback. I have never forgotten that. He asked me if remembered that night, and my response was, "It's one of my best memories of my life." Thank you, Daddy, for taking me. He then had a dream and assured me that all of our pets would be in heaven with him. I hope he was right.
In my eyes, Daddy could do anything. He was a marksman with a gun and an excellent fisherman. He could make a terrific "catfish stew" and the best scrambled eggs anywhere. Daddy loved animals, especially our dogs and cats, and he taught us to respect and treat all animals with kindness and affection. Adding a little bean juice or a special treat to our dog's supper was a nightly routine. He could fix anything in the house and put my fears to rest. Whenever I left the house, his last words were, "Do you need money?" and "Be careful. Call me if you need me."
We owned a lake house near Columbia, SC, where we spent many happy years sailing, fishing, and water skiing with family and friends. Oh, how he did love his Cris Craft boat, the Osprey! He told me he would find us another lake house in heaven where we would all meet again. Daddy, have you found it yet? Are John and Mary there with you? We'll need a pretty big boat for us all. After Daddy retired in 1990, he and Mama spent their time traveling and camping in their RV. They met a new circle of retirees from all over the U.S., whose company and friendship they enjoyed greatly. One RV campground in the North Carolina mountains, River Bend, named its annual golf tournament the Shep Sawyer Golf Tournament in his honor.
He loved my mother unconditionally his entire life. They grew up in the same small town of Johnston, SC, even on the same street. They met when they were ten years old, and the first time Daddy proposed to Mama was on her 13th birthday. He gave her a compact, which she still has, and a ring the next year, which I still have. Ten years later after college and a WWII tour overseas, they married and remained married for 53 years. As Daddy passed away, he opened his eyes one last time to see my mother's face. Theirs was a truly great love story.
When Daddy found out he could not recover from his illness, the one thought that comforted him was that he would soon see his parents who both died in 1961 when he was only 36. I truly believe in my heart the family is together once again.
Although he wasn't at church every time the doors opened, Daddy was a man of tremendous faith. He had a very personal relationship with God, and when he needed spiritual guidance, he turned to the Lord. He trusted God with his heart and soul and conversed with him at length quite often. Because of his faith, I know the Lord welcomed Daddy into heaven with loving arms.
My life has never been, nor will it ever be, the same without him. I miss him every day.
