Gail Frances (Otterbein) Sawyer

Gail Frances Sawyer (Otterbein) passed away on Jan. 5, 2025 at Good Samaritan Nursing home in Olathe, KS after a short stay. Gail was born April 11, 1944 to Wilbur and Ruth Otterbein and was the fifth of nine children. She and her siblings spent their youth on farms in Iowa and then southern Minnesota, until her parents moved to Waltham, MN. She attended Parochial School at Trinity Lutheran Church and graduated high school in Hayfield, MN. On Dec.28, 1963 she married Terry LaVere Sawyer, and they lived in Austin, MN until 1966 when they moved to Denver, CO where they resided until 1979. They then moved to Goodland, KS to raise their children in a small town. Gail and Terry raised three boys, Kevin, Kyle and Keith together and Gail became very involved with the Emmanual Lutheran Church. After Terry passed away in June 1992 from cancer, Gail moved to Paola, KS. During her professional life in Goodland and Paola, she worked with adult individuals with intellectual disabilities until she retired. After her retirement, she enjoyed going to the Paola Senior Center for lunch, playing bingo and other afternoon activities. She tried to never miss a Sunday morning at First Lutheran Church of Paola or a Friday night dinner at Spudley’s with her friends. She delighted in baking extra-large pies and special holiday treats. She loved to decorate cookies for Halloween and Christmas with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Gail spent countless hours reading, doing word searches and playing cards. She loved the Broncos football team and steadfastly refused to cheer for the Chiefs but loved watching Patrick Mahomes. Faced with several health issues in recent years, her greatest wish was to see Terry again and her family takes solace in knowing she has now been given that.

Gail is survived by brothers Larry, Loren (Marilyn), Norman (Kathy), Norbert (Diana), Wayne (Pam), sisters-in-law Linda (Larry) Hansen and Vicki (Jim) Berthiaume, sons Kevin (Nicole), Kyle (Karen) and Keith (Dedra), grandchildren Riley, Cody (Jessica), and Derek (Kiana), step-grandchildren Trea, Britney, Layton, Lyndsay and Jacob, Nickki, great grandchildren Grayson, Decklyn, Cayden, Cash, Knox and Anderson as well as countless nieces, nephews and other loved ones. Gail was preceded in death by her husband, Terry, parents Wilber and Ruth, siblings Bob, Ronald and Sharon, grandson Shathen and step grandson Cade.

A celebration of life will be held on April 12th at Paola Senior Center, 121 W Wea, Paola KS. Graveside will be Friday, April 18, 2025 at 3 p.m. MT at the Goodland Cemetery, North Main Street, Goodland. Information and condolences www.batemanfuneral.com