MILBRIDGE – “K” died Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005, at home, surrounded by her family. She was 62. K was born May 24, 1943, in Castine, to Isaac and Nellie (Gray) Burton. She graduated from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Class of 1961 and the Golden School of Beauty in Portland, Class of 1962. On Sept. 13, 1963, she married Richard Sawyer of Milbridge. Together they raised two sons, Rick and Tim. Dick served in the U.S. Air Force for over 24 years, so they traveled to many states and foreign countries. In 1974, she received a practical nursing certificate from Wayne Community College in Gouldsboro, N.C. While living in Florida for 17 years with her family, she received her associate of Arts Degree, her bachelor of Social Work, Summa Cum Laude and her masters of Social Work from the Univeristy of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., in 1996. From 1982-89, K was the assistant director, then director of Ventures In Living for the Easter Seal Society of Melbourne, Fla. From 1991-94, she was the Adult Day Care director for the Alzheimer’s Association of East Central Fla. From 1994-96, she was a case manager for Private Case Management of Melbourne, Fla. From 1997-98, she was marketing director and Social Services Director for the Narraguagus Bay Health Care Facility in Milbridge. From 1998-2005, K worked for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as the program coordinator. K was hired by the NMSS to open the new Maine Chapter Outreach Office in Bangor and Hampden. She was a member of the Zonta Club of Bangor and the National Association of Social Workers. She and Dick moved to Milbridge from Bangor after she retired with over 35 years in the Medical Social Work field. In addition to her mother, K is survived by her husband of 42 years, Richard Sawyer of Milbridge; two sons, Rick and his family of Blue Hill and Tim and his family of Brooklin; eight grandchildren, whom she loved very much; a brother, Bill Burton of Florida; a brother-in-law, Peter Sawyer of Milbridge; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Milbridge Congregational Church. Gifts in memory of K may be sent to the Milbridge Historical Society, Milbridge, ME 04658 or to the Milbridge Congregational Church, UCC, where she worshipped. Cremation arrangements are by Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Home, Milbridge.
KAREN B. ‘K’ SAWYER
