Donald Everett Sayward

He was born on November 11, 1926 in Portland, Cumberland, Maine, the son of Theodore Thompson Sayward and Lillian May Brown Sayward (Greer). He was adopted on May 10, 1929 and raised by his grandparents, George Frank and Lucy A Thompson Sayward, and educated in Gorham, Maine schools.

Donald Sayward was a descendant of Jonathan Sayward, a prosperous York, Maine merchant, West Indies trader, judge and representative to the Massachusetts Court who participated in the conquest of the French fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia in 1745. Judge Jonathan Sayward was well respected in York Harbor, his home stood a half mile up the York River from the ocean. Now known as the Sayward-Wheeler House, 79 Barrell Lane Extension, York Harbor, Maine, as early as 1860, descendants opened the house to visitors as an emblem of colonial times, and the house still stands today as one of the seven house museums in the Piscataqua River region, managed by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA).

On April 3, 1948, he married Marie Yvonne Lorraine Gagnon Sayward in Wells, Maine. In his youth, Donald worked at his grandfather, George’s store. Later, Donald was a taxi driver in the Biddeford, Maine area, worked as a cook at the Cascade Inn (landmark restaurant and Maine tradition since 1929), and with his wife, Marie, owned and operated a small restaurant and worked as a security guard in the Spokane, Washington area. He last worked 60 plus years as a self employed house painter, painting houses and businesses with his son, Raymond, well into his 80’s. Donald lived in many places across the United States, he liked to call it “itchy feet.” His children were born in Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Connecticut. As he traveled, he made big moves, from Maine to Washington State, from Washington to Florida (in the 1960s, arriving a few days before Florida was hit by hurricane Gladys), he even tried living in Las Vegas, Nevada which turned out to be very short lived. His roots seem to settle in the Olympia, Washington area, whenever he left, he seemed to be driven to return.

Donald was a 40+ year member of the Olympia Eagles, FOE #21, serving as President (twice) as well as Vice President for many years; he was Chairman of the Thurston County Radio Watch, holding benefits for the Diabetic Association, billing itself as the eyes and ears of Thurston County; and an active member in a Thurston County Citizens Band Radio Club, who worked with local law enforcement on search and rescue missions in the County. His CB handle was “Maniac” and Marie’s handle was “Frenchie.”

Donald was predeceased by: his wife of 70 years, Marie Yvonne Lorraine Gagnon Sayward on April 18, 2018; his grandfather, George F Sayward in 1946, his grandmother, Lucy A Thompson Sayward in 1957, his father, Theodore (Ted) Sayward in 1974, his step mother, Bertha Woodis Sayward in 1974, his mother, Lillian Brown (Sayward) Greer in 1988, his step father, Raymond Greer in 1975, his brother, George T Sayward in 1977, his half brother, Lloyd Thompson Sayward in 1998, his half sister, Mary Ann Sayward True in 2012; his daughter, Sandra Sayward Whitaker in 2010, six sons in law, Dennis Lakey in 1999, Rudy Whitaker in 2005, Larry Slenker Sr in 2008, Edward Howdeshell Jr in 2010, Richard T Newhall and William Nicholas (Nick) Ewing Sr in 2016; a daughter in law, Starla Dee Ellis Sayward in 2005; two grandsons, Steven J Lakey Jr in 2011, Thomas L Newhall in 2000, and a great grandson, Beau David Cloud in 2008.

He is survived by: one son, Raymond Sayward (Betty Jo) of Olympia, WA; five daughters, Donna Ewing of Tumwater, WA, Carol Mullins (and her husband, Vern) of Warrenton, OR, Susan Davey (and her husband, Jack) of Phoenix, AZ, Chere Cline (and her husband, Bobby) of Centralia, WA, Betty Cloud (and her husband, David) of Springfield, OR; a daughter in law, Carol Chatwood Sayward of Olympia, WA; six sons in law, Eugene Hegel and Wayne Rushforth of Olympia, WA, Steven J Lakey Sr of California, Martin M Bue of Oregon, and Charles C Fore Jr of Washington; eleven grandchildren: Curtis (Jennifer), Corey (David), Kathleen, Lisa (Chad), Melody, Larry, David (Angela), Catrina (Tim), Shane, Brenda (Bryan) & Jason (Carly); nineteen great grandchildren: Sarah, Matthew, Briana (Russell), Jessica, Cheri (Chris), Evan, Ryleigh, Ryder, Alexis, CaSandra (Derek), Kyle (Britt), Payton, Braxton, Brittny (Will), Stefany, Dani, Joshua, Hunter and Gaige; four great great granddaughters, Savanna Jane, Alexa Grace, Hailey and Temperance Michelle, and twin boys due in 2018; numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, and nephews, and grand nieces and grand nephews.

Burial will be in Mills & Mills Memorial Park, Tumwater, Thurston, Washington.