Herwanna Lee (Harrouff) Sayre, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, tennis player, pianist, choral director, music teacher, tour co-director and so much more, passed away on October 27, 2019 at the Foxwood Springs Living Center, Raymore, MO.
Herwanna was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, to George Frederick & Bessie Lee (Sare) Harrouff on March 29, 1926.
As a youth Herwanna had two passions, tennis and the piano. She was the only female member of her junior high school tennis team and became Oklahoma State singles and doubles champion in 1940. She was an accomplished pianist and performed at many musical events and accompanied many choral groups. Herwanna graduated from Lawton High School in 1944. She studied one year at the Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and transferred to Phillips University (Enid, OK) on a music scholarship. She accompanied several university choral groups, including one group that performed in Disciples churches throughout Oklahoma and the surrounding states. Herwanna graduated in 1948 with a BA in Religious Education and Music. On June 18, 1948 John Sayre and Herwanna L. Harrouff, of Lawton, OK, were married at University Place Christian Church, Enid, OK, and lived in New Haven, Connecticut until 1950 while John completed his graduate program at Yale Divinity School.
From 1950-1957 Herwanna and John moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where all four children were born and John served as Campus Minister for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Student Center at Oklahoma State University. In 1957, they moved to Austin, Texas, where Herwanna taught pre-school at All Saints Episcopal Church and John served as Campus Minister at the University Christian Church.
In 1962, Herwanna and John returned to Enid, Oklahoma, and Phillips University where John was called to be the Seminary Librarian. Herwanna started her public school teaching career in North Enid Elementary School & Enid Public Schools (Roosevelt Elementary, Longfellow Junior High). She completed her Master’s degree in education from Phillips University. She also served as choir member, director and organist at University Place Christian Church and was active in the Phillips University Women’s Association and a patron of the Enid-Phillips Symphony.
After retiring in 1989, Herwanna and John moved to Foxwood Springs Living Center in Raymore, Missouri where they enjoyed retirement and traveled the world. Over the next thirty years Herwanna accompanied Vespers services, festivals, memorials and other events and never met a piano she didn’t play. She was a member of the Raymore Christian Church Choir, as well as the Foxwood Springs Chorus.
Herwanna and John devoted themselves to sharing the joys of attending cultural events throughout the Kansas City area, traveling the world with others, organizing and directing tours, especially to Scandinavia. They acquired a multitude of friends through the years from these tours and other travels.
Herwanna is survived by her four children – Barbara A. (Don) Hutchins of Napa, California, John Richard Sayre (Mary Phillips) of Galesburg, Illinois, Alan D. Sayre (Linda Record) and Melody L. (Roy) Hildebrand of Enid, Oklahoma - five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Grandchildren: Constance (Chris) Myers, Enid, OK; Jeremy (Jennifer) Hildebrand, Enid, OK; John Aaron (Ali) Sayre, Louisville, KY; Chris Hutchins (Amy Fox), San Francisco, CA; and Allison (Jake) Yount, Danville, CA. Great-grandchildren: Grant & Evan Gallagher, Breanna, Aly & Jace Myers, Enid, OK; Taylor & Jax Hildebrand, Enid, OK; and Hazel Laura & Vivian Herwanna Sayre, Louisville, KY. Herwanna is also survived by her beloved companion, Karl Shade, Raymore, MO.
She was preceded in death by her loving & devoted husband, John L. Sayre, her parents, her siblings: Mildred Freeman, Kelly and Bill Harrouff.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, November 4, 2019, at 10:30 am at Raymore Christian Church, 500 Peace Drive, Raymore, MO 64083. Feel free to attend the visitation of your choice, Sunday, November 3, 1:30-3:00pm at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO, or on Monday, November 4, 9:30-10:30 at Raymore Christian Church prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Raymore Christian Church Music Department, or the Fellowship of John, PO Box 701, Raymore, MO 64083.
An additional memorial service for the residents of Foxwood Springs Retirement Community is pending.
