MERRILL – Jean Isabelle Grange Sawyer, 95, passed away peacefully in her sleep June 17, 2013, at Gardiner Nursing Home. She was born March 20, 1918, in Merrill, daughter of George A. and Jennie (Stephenson) Grange.
Jean was a member of Smyrna United Methodist Church. She graduated from Merrill High School in 1935 and attended the University of Maine where she belonged to the Phi Mu Sorority. She graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. Oct. 12, 1941, she married George R. “Tuddy” Sawyer. Together they traveled while George was working for the U.S. Geological Survey before he entered the U.S. Navy. While he was in the Navy, Jean helped with her family’s farm. She worked managing the family farm for the majority of her life. After the war Jean and George worked with her parents and eventually took over the Grange dairy and potato farm. She started volunteering and substitute teaching in the early 1970s at Southern Aroostook Community Schools. Beginning with her own family lineage in 1979, Jean became an avid historian researching local towns and family lines. Jean was called upon to trace many family trees and town histories for the town of Merrill and for surrounding towns and it became a hobby. She was a member of Oakfield Historical Society and volunteered at Oakfield Railroad Museum. She greatly enjoyed spending time with her, patiently awaited for, five grandchildren, playing games, teaching them to cook and the long family tradition of “maple syruping,” gardening, sewing and knitting, and putting flags and flowers out for veterans at the cemeteries. Jean lived to see her six great-grandchildren, ranging from one to 16.
She is survived by her sons, William “Bill” H. of Palermo, George A. and Jane and their children, Luke and Hannah of Sweden, Michael and Cheryl of Merrill and their children, Nathan Murphy, Dan Murphy, Melanie and Patrick; daughter, Mary Anne of New Limerick and her children, Jennie Hare and fiancé, Thomas Schools, and Annie Hare; and great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Tanner, Liley, Gavin, Liam and Autumn. Jean was predeceased by her parents; her husband, George R.; sisters, Edna and Etta; brother, George; and son-in-law, Michael Hare.
Friends may call 2-3 p.m. Sunday, June 23, at Smyrna/Merrill Historical Society, formerly the Smyrna United Methodist Church, where funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Interment will be at Merill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers those who wish may donate in Jean’s memory to Oakfield Historical Society, care of Alberta McDonald, P.O. Box 2, Oakfield, ME 04763, or to Smyrna/Merrill Historical Society, care of Marlene Lawlor, P.O. Box 184, Smyrna, ME 04780 or Merrill Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 239, Smyrna, ME 04780. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.
Jean Isabelle Grange Sawyer
