Freestone County, Texas Obits Palestine Herald - January 6, 2007 Lura Ward Sawyer Longtime Sutton County resident Lura Ward Sawyer, 90, died at Hudspeth Memorial Hospital in Sonora, TX on Jan. 4, 2007. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 at First United Methodist Church in Sonora. Lura was born on Aug. 11, 1961, in Cleveland, TX to Haynes and Evelyn Ward. She attended schools in Oakwood and Teague, TX, graduating from Teague High School in May 1933. She attended Sullins College in Bristol, VA, graduating with a General Diploma in 1935, then attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, graduating in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. While there she was the Zeta Tau Alpha Beauty in 1937 and 1938. Lura moved to Sonora after college graduation and taught at the L.W. Elliott Elementary School until her marriage. On June 7, 1941, she married Edwin Sawyer. They lived on the Sawyer ranch outside of Sonora for 10 years until they built their home on Castle Hill Road in 1951, where she lived until her death. Always active in community affairs, Lura was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Sonora Women’s Club, the Hospital Auxiliary, and an honorary director of First National Bank of Sonora. She also served as a member of the Senior Center Board and delivered Meals on Wheels until she was 85 years old. An avid reader, Lura took particular interest in the success of the Sonora Public Library and contributed many books to the small library in Seboeis, Maine. She was very active in three bridge clubs and enjoyed the many friends she had in those clubs. Since 1981, she and Edwin, prior to his death and then later with her son, Eddie, provided ranch facilities for the annual Sixth Grade Field Tour, which provides hands-on learning to children about the conservation of national resources. Lura was the recipient of several conservation awards, including Conservation Rancher of the Year in 1993 and 2003 and the Texas Conservation Awards Program Resident Conservation Rancher in 2005. She also was chosen as Citizen of the Year by the Sonora Chamber of Commerce in 1996. In addition to her many friends in Sonora, Lura was equally close to a number of friends and relatives in Maine, where she spent her summers at the Sawyer family’s lake house. Lura was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Sawyer; sister-in-law, Alice Jones; and brother-in-law, Wesley Sawyer. Family members include her son, Edwin Sawyer III; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Preston Neely; daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Carlos Davis; and daughter and son-in-law, Molly and Chip Campbell. Her grandchildren are Sawyer Neely and his wife, Suzi; Joe Neely and his wife, Amy; Carrie Coke and her husband, Charles; Christin Davis, Eugene Davis and Allison Campbell. Great- grandchildren include Jack Neely, Jake Neely and Wesley Neely. Lura also is survived by her niece, Claire Jones; and her nephew and his wife, Cleve T. and Lolabeth Jones and their families, whom she also considered her children. The Sawyer family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Hudspeth Memorial Hospital for their loving care of our mother, and to Maria Espinosa, our mother’s special caretaker and friend.