Smyth County, Virginia, Obituaries: Merton E. Sawdey Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Smyth County News & Messenger http://www.smythnews.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday, January 19, 2005 Sawdey Merton E. Sawdey, 78, of Las Vegas, Nev., died Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, after displaying extreme fortitude in his battle with hemochromatosis. He retired from Treasure Island in 2001, where he had been employed from the time it opened in food and beverage. He was a Navy veteran who served during WW II as a physical training instructor at the submarine base in New London, Conn. An avid and talented baseball player, he was an associate of Hall of Famer, Yogi Berra, with whom he maintained a life long friendship. Upon leaving the Navy, he entered into the catering profession and managed the family owned Beachcomber Hotel in Erie, Pa., a position he retained until it was sold in 1959. He subsequently managed properties for Holiday Inn (USA) and Hilton Hotels in Los Angeles, Calif. He ventured into the ice cream franchise business with Baskin- Robbins in 1968 in Las Vegas, where he resided for the next 37 years until his passing. Additionally, he owned and operated the SRS Travel Agency for 10 years. A diverse entrepreneur, he was also a licensed realtor and acted as an agent for a variety of other commercial interests. He was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Sawdey Roberts. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Caroline Painter Sawdey, a Marion High School graduate class of 1944; four children, Sarah C. Sawdey, William R. Sawdey and Merton E. Sawdey, Jr., all of Las Vegas, Nev. and Mary Caroline Holtom of Denver, Colo.; and two sisters, Mary Ann Sawdey Coughlin and Carol Lee Sawdey Restifo. No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Liver Foundation (1- 800-GO LIVER), in memory of Merton E. Sawdey. Garden Memorial Funeral Home in Las Vegas, Nev. was in charge of arrangements.