NEWPORT – M. Arlene Sawyer, 97, died Nov. 4, 2009, at a Dover-Foxcroft hospital after a long illness. She was born May 3, 1912, in Newport, the daughter of Fred and Lottie (Andrews) Smith. Arlene graduated from Newport High School and Bryant-Stratton Business College, Boston. After her graduation from college she worked at the Blaine House in Augusta for Gov. Lewis O. Barrows and then received a full time appointment as a clerk at Newport Post Office, where she worked for 40 years. She married E. Raymond Sawyer May 28, 1937, in Newport. Arlene and Ray celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary before his death in 2008. Arlene was a longtime active member of High Street Congregational Church, Newport. She was a life member of Newport Garden Club and was active in several other community organizations. She is survived by her son and his wife, Russell A. and Jane Sawyer of Newport; her daughter and her husband, Kathy J. and Frank Pray Jr. of Newport; four grandchildren, Shelby Emery and her husband, Scott, of Newport, Eileen Bemis of Newport, Janelle Leeman and her husband, Vern, of Bangor and Renee Fournier and her husband, Richard, of Bangor; five great-grandchildren, Josh Emery, Trevor Bemis, Jillian Grover, Jayci Fournier and Nicholas Fournier; and one great-great-grandson, Xander Bemis. In addition to her husband, Raymond, she was predeceased by a great-granddaughter, Jenni Bemis; and a brother, Kenneth Smith. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Service Center, 34 High St., Newport, with Pastor Al Worden officiating. Friends may call an hour, noon-1 p.m., before the service at the funeral home. Friends who wish may make memorial donations to High Street Congregational Church Memorial Fund, 24 High St., Newport, ME 04953. To sign an online guest book and leave written tributes, please visit www.PhilipBrownFuneralHome.com.
M. ARLENE SAWYER
