SAWYER, George “Buzz” Cushing Jr., 79, LINCOLN, NE & ASHLAND, ME, January 29, 2014. Arrangements are in the care of Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home, Lincoln, NE.
LINCOLN, NE & ASHLAND, ME – George “Buzz” Cushing Sawyer, Jr., USN (Retired), left his earthly journey January 29, 2014, after several months of battling cancer. Born August 6, 1934, to George C. Sawyer, Sr. and Elizabeth Markel on his grandfather’s farm in Ashland, Aroostook County, ME, he attended grade school and high school in Houlton, and was a 1952 graduate of Ashland Community High School. He spent winters at the “Sawyer” home in Houlton and summers working on his grandfather’s farm in Ashland. He attended Ricker College in Houlton.
George served in the U.S. Navy from January 1955 – January 1959. After his active submarine duty, he graduated from The Universal Trade School in Omaha, NE, with a degree in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. During this time, through a mutual friend, George was introduced to his future wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Meyer of Lincoln. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary with a card shower.
They had two children, Alan of NM, and daughter, Anita (Nate) Moore, WA; two grandsons, Quinten Moore, Pacific University, OR, and Harper Moore, WA, both of whom he loved dearly.
George was always proud to say he served in the U.S. Navy on an experimental submarine, the USS Albacore AGSS-569 which “holds a place in history as the first Navy-designed vessel with a true underwater hull of cylindrical shape that has become the standard for all submarines of today”. It was commissioned in 1953. He retired as a U.S. Navy Career Counselor of Seabee Naval Reserves.
Before retiring from Veteran’s Hospital in Lincoln, previous employment included State of Maine Forestry and Highway Departments, Climax Molybdemum Mine, Leadville, CO, Montgomery Wards, Lincoln and University of Nebraska Lincoln. After retirement, Rochester Armored Car.
Fishing in Maine was one of George’s favorite past-times. He found peace in spending time in the northern Maine woods and staying in the camp his great-grandfather built in 1892. He was proud to be from northern Maine. He enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles, playing pinochle, cribbage, pitch, having Saturday coffee with his buddies, reading westerns, playing table games, playing Keno at Patty’s Pub and visiting casinos. In his later years, George survived on coffee, one meal a day and his favorite adult beverages!
W.B. George was a member of North Star Lodge No. 27, A.F. & A.M., Capstone Chapter RA #64, the Scottish Rite, Sesostris Shrine, Past Patron Myrtle Chapter No. 94 Order of the Eastern Star, D.A.V., Fleet Reserve, American Legion & AARP. He was a former Deacon and member of First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, NE.
George will be greatly missed by his wife, Elizabeth; son, Alan; daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Nate Moore; grandsons Quinten and Harper Moore; sisters, Laura Pike, Ashland, ME, Elizabeth “Betsy” Maker, Providence Forge, VA, Nancy Sawyer, Auburn, MA; brother, Peter (Doris) Sawyer, Ashland; step-sisters: Dr. Janice Webster, Searsport, ME, Barbara (Dick) Breckenridge, Hickory, NC, Susan Webber, Tucson, AZ; step-brothers: Peter (Kathy) Rand, Tucson, Ted (Sarah) Rand, Portland, ME; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of special friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, George C. Sawyer, Sr.; birth mother, Elizabeth Markel Strong; step-mother, Irene C. Sawyer; step-brother, Don Rand; sister-in-law, Paulie Rand, Marilyn Meyer (Frank) Koehler; brothers-in-law: George Pike, Curtis Maker, Dr. Frank “Dutch” Meyer, Richard “Dick” Meyer and Howard Meyer.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m. at Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home. Visitation with family was one hour before service with Masonic services by North Star Lodge No. 227 and a military service.
Celebration of his life was held at his favorite, Potato Soup & Sub Sandwiches! at Patty’s Pub from 1-3 p.m., 311 N. Cotner Blvd., Lincoln, NE.
Memorials: George “Pete” & Irene Sawyer Scholarship Fund, Ashland, ME, Portsmouth Submarine Memorial Association – 600 Market Street – Portsmouth, NH 03801, North Star Lodge No.227 – Sesostris Shrine Children’s Hospital Transportation Fund – Tabitha Hospice – Lincoln, NE. 68510.
A special thanks to Melissa Morgan a fabulous R.N. of Tabitha Hospice.
Interment: Sawyer family cemetery, Ashland, ME – August 6, 2014, on the 80th anniversary of his birth.
