Obituary of Maurice Edward Sawyer

Maurice (“Morris” to his friends, especially those South of the Mason Dixon line) was born July 5th, 1928 in Portsmouth, Virginia. He led a full life and told countless colorful stories of his years growing up in the South. His stories from the 1940’s were full of bootleggers, gamblers and high-speed chases. While he faced a difficult childhood, he loved his family, his history and his motorcycle. The 1950’s brought him to Rockland Maine with the Coast Guard where he was stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Laurel. During his years in the Coast Guard, Maurice became an expert marksman and member of the Rifle team, participating in team and individual competitions and winning numerous sharp shooter medals. In 1953 Maurice joined the Fraternal Order of the Mason’s in which he was a lifelong member. The best thing that happened to him in those years was meeting his wife Virginia (Ginny), a native of Maine. They married in 1953 and shared 58 years of life and love. Maurice and Ginny moved to Chesapeake Virginia in 1955 where they settled and raised their family. He worked various jobs until finding his niche at Norfolk Wholesale Floral Corporation where he worked his way up to General Manager, retiring after 20+ years. In his retirement, Maurice and Ginny lived for 10 years in Hertford, North Carolina on Little River where Maurice perfected the art of fishing, crabbing and “shedding crabs” for incredible tasting steamed and soft shell crabs. His greatest joy was hosting parties at his home on the river where everyone was family and he could share his love of the river and the seafood found there. The last 10 years of his life, Maurice lived in a house overlooking Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson Maine. He enjoyed the lake, the lobster and the annual Rockland Lobster Festival which made up for the winter snow and shoveling – which he never grew to enjoy. A highlight of those years was teaching his 3 grandsons to fish. He loved to reminisce about his childhood friends from Portlock and many others who touched his life. He valued his family and friends and always looked for opportunities to catch up and share a story. Maurice died on May 3rd, 2011, the first full moon of the month (traditionally known as the start of blue crab soft shell season). His short battle with lung cancer was eased by the amazing nurses in the Hospice unit of the VA Medical Center in Augusta Maine. There will always be a special place in our hearts and in Heaven for these incredible ladies. Donations in memory of Maurice can be made to Togus VAMC Hospice, 1 VA Center, Augusta, ME 04330. Maurice was preceded in death by his parents George Wallace Sawyer and Helen Smith Hall Sidelman. He is survived by his wife Virginia, his children - Cindy Davis of Belfast Maine, Sam Sawyer of Baton Rouge Louisiana and Cathy Foley, son-in-law Kevin Foley, grandchildren Connor, Aidan and Owen Foley of Andover Massachusetts, sister Vivian Wotring and her husband Bill of Hickory North Carolina, cousins Joan Baxter of Chesapeake Virginia and Steve Baxter and his wife Betty of Gautier Mississippi. A memorial service is being planned for Maurice this summer, his favorite time of the year. Arrangements under the care of Crabiel-Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Avenue, Belfast. On-line condolences may be offered at www.ripostafh.com.