Obituary of Doc Sawyer, Saline Co, AR

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Submitted by: Darcy Stonesifer
        Date: September 2006
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James F. ‘Doc' Sawyer

James F. “Doc” Sawyer, 84, of Little Rock died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006.

He was born March 24, 1922, in Hamburg, Ark.

He grew up in Hamburg, where he worshipped with his family in the Baptist church
and became a Christian. After graduating from high school there, he attended
Arkansas A&M College in Monticello and was a graduate of the University of
Tennessee School of Dentistry. He was in the Navy, serving in Panama.

Dr. Sawyer served Benton and the Saline County community for more than 30 years
as a dentist, both in private practice and with the Benton Services Center of
the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

He participated widely in community organizations and development in Saline
County, including Rotary International, which he served as a district governor
and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

He was a lifelong Southern Baptist, serving and leading in his local churches,
First Baptist Church in Benton and Highland Heights, and in state and national
Baptist ministry, including membership on the Foreign Mission Board.

Sawyer was a pioneer for volunteer dental and medical mission trips, which
became a significant focus for much of his life. He participated in many trips
to countries in Central America, South America, Africa and Asia.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Fred Sawyer and Greg Sawyer.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mary Sawyer; two daughters, Sharon
Lockhart and husband John of Richmond, Texas, and Camille Richardson and husband
Jerry of Little Rock; six grandchildren, Josh and Joey Lockhart and Cliff,
Mollie, Will and Mark Richardson; and two brothers, Glyn Sawyer of Little Rock
and William Sawyer of Phoenix.

Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home in
Little Rock.

Family comments: His faith became the source of guidance and strength for his
entire life. His remarkable life demonstrated a deep belief in the value of
every person and was marked by integrity, generosity, and a commitment to honor
God with good will to his fellow man.