HOULTON and LINNEUS – Our mother, Vina J. Hannan McGuire Sawyer, 85, passed away June 2, 2012, surrounded by her family. She was born Aug. 7, 1926, in Linneus, the daughter of Mervin and Faye (Bither) Hannan.
Vina loved working for Visiting Nurses of Aroostook, retiring at age 77. She was the last living survivor of the Long Creek Air Disaster of 1944. Dec. 29, 2010, was declared Vina Hannan Sawyer Day by former Gov. John Baldacci. Her joy in life was family gatherings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her annual Christmas Eve parties at Lee Apartments. To get a smile on her face we only had to get the “crowd together.”
She is survived by two sons, Robert McGuire and wife, Sheila, of Virginia and Christopher McGuire and wife, Linda, of Linneus; one daughter, Cynthia (McGuire) and Bruce Scott of Ludlow; two stepsons, Scott and Linda Sawyer of Mechanic Falls and Steve and Lisa Sawyer of Portland; 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; one sister, Vivian Fortier and her husband, Earl, of Virginia; brother-in-law Ervin Smith of Monticello; sister-in-law, Evelyn Hannan of Connecticut; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her first husband, Lyle McGuire, in 1976; her second husband, Basil Sawyer, in 1983; six brothers, Gerald, Blaine, Chester, Paul, Dale and Cederic Hannan; and one sister, Barbara Smith. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Madigan Estates for their loving care during the past months.
Friends are invited to join the family for a memorial graveside service noon Tuesday at Linneus Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends may make gifts to Hospice of Aroostook, Houlton Division, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book at
www.dunnfuneral.com.