Stephen Paul Sawyer
November 26, 1942 ~ November 29, 2011
Bentonville, Arkansas
Stephen Paul Sawyer, 69, of Bentonville, AR, passed away Tuesday,
November 29, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers, AR. He was born
November 26, 1942 in Omaha, NE to Paul Charles Sawyer and Alice
Elizabeth Sampson Sawyer.
He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1964 with a degree in
Physics and was employed by Texaco Oil in Amarillo, Texas as a
Geophysicist. He later attended the University of Arkansas Law School and
after receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1971 served as a law clerk for the
Arkansas Supreme Court. In 1973, he joined a law firm in downtown
Bentonville that later became Coffelt, Burrow & Sawyer. He also served
several terms as Municipal Judge in Bentonville from 1975-1986. During
his long legal career, he received many professional awards including
recognition by the Legal Aid of Arkansas as the 2005 Benton County
Volunteer Attorney of the Year and served as President of the Benton County
Bar Association for the term of June 1983-1984.
Steve was an avid sports fan who enjoyed playing golf, fishing, listening to
classical music and playing practical jokes on his friends. He will always be
remembered as a wonderful man and loving father that enjoyed spending
time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Stephen was survived by three children, Deidre Sawyer Frisby and husband
Greg of Greensboro, N.C., Paul Sawyer, of Rogers, Jennifer Reznicek and
husband Daniel of Coppell, TX; one step-son, Michael Holmes and wife
Melanie of Royce City, TX; Theresa Sawyer, of Bentonville, AR; two
brothers, Conrad Sawyer of Fayetteville, AR, James Sawyer and wife Mary
of Fayetteville, AR; nine grandchildren, Allye Littrell, Abby Littrell, Alec
Frisby, Dax Frisby all of Greensboro, N.C, Katelin Reznicek, Jaiden
Reznicek of Coppell, TX, Mackenzie Holmes, Aidan Holmes of Royce City,
TX, and Xana Bradford of Fayetteville, AR; two nieces Valerie Sawyer of
Fayetteville, AR, Stephanie Sawyer of Fayetteville, AR; and many friends and
colleagues.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30PM, Thursday, December 1, 2011 at
Stockdale Funeral Services in Rogers.
Funeral services will be at 1:00PM, Friday, December 2, 2011 at St.
Theodore’s Episcopal Church in Bella Vista, AR with Father Ken T. Parks
officiating. Burial will be in Bentonville Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in honor of Stephen Sawyer to the American Lung
Association, 211 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205-1539.
November 29, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers, AR. He was born
November 26, 1942 in Omaha, NE to Paul Charles Sawyer and Alice
Elizabeth Sampson Sawyer.
He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1964 with a degree in
Physics and was employed by Texaco Oil in Amarillo, Texas as a
Geophysicist. He later attended the University of Arkansas Law School and
after receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1971 served as a law clerk for the
Arkansas Supreme Court. In 1973, he joined a law firm in downtown
Bentonville that later became Coffelt, Burrow & Sawyer. He also served
several terms as Municipal Judge in Bentonville from 1975-1986. During
his long legal career, he received many professional awards including
recognition by the Legal Aid of Arkansas as the 2005 Benton County
Volunteer Attorney of the Year and served as President of the Benton County
Bar Association for the term of June 1983-1984.
Steve was an avid sports fan who enjoyed playing golf, fishing, listening to
classical music and playing practical jokes on his friends. He will always be
remembered as a wonderful man and loving father that enjoyed spending
time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Stephen was survived by three children, Deidre Sawyer Frisby and husband
Greg of Greensboro, N.C., Paul Sawyer, of Rogers, Jennifer Reznicek and
husband Daniel of Coppell, TX; one step-son, Michael Holmes and wife
Melanie of Royce City, TX; Theresa Sawyer, of Bentonville, AR; two
brothers, Conrad Sawyer of Fayetteville, AR, James Sawyer and wife Mary
of Fayetteville, AR; nine grandchildren, Allye Littrell, Abby Littrell, Alec
Frisby, Dax Frisby all of Greensboro, N.C, Katelin Reznicek, Jaiden
Reznicek of Coppell, TX, Mackenzie Holmes, Aidan Holmes of Royce City,
TX, and Xana Bradford of Fayetteville, AR; two nieces Valerie Sawyer of
Fayetteville, AR, Stephanie Sawyer of Fayetteville, AR; and many friends and
colleagues.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30PM, Thursday, December 1, 2011 at
Stockdale Funeral Services in Rogers.
Funeral services will be at 1:00PM, Friday, December 2, 2011 at St.
Theodore’s Episcopal Church in Bella Vista, AR with Father Ken T. Parks
officiating. Burial will be in Bentonville Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in honor of Stephen Sawyer to the American Lung
Association, 211 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205-1539.
Stephen Sawyer
Stephen was a one-of-a-kind! He will be missed by those who knew him. He was kind, loving and cared so much about so
many. I will always be able to hear the laughter of Stephen, Lloyd, and Eugene when they were having a good time or up to
something. I have so many happy memories of "the good ole days". I extend my sympathy to Stephen's family and hope
the wonderful memories you have of him will keep him alive in your hearts forever.
Brenda Gastineau Williams
Paul Sawyer
My heart goes out to the family of the lovely young people we taught at Bentonville High School. Our every prayer
this morning we send to help the hurting hurt at such a time as this. We love you so very much.
Steve Gunter
Steve Sawyer
Marilyn and I are out of town Friday. I would like to see James and Conrad. I remember when we were kids (like 8 years
old) we would play and have great times on the corner of Tahlequah and Maxwell. We did have some great times. I know this
is a hard time but with the victory over death that our Savior Jesus Christ has given us, we will see Steve again in time.
Your friends,
Bill and Marilyn Jackson
Stephen P Sawyer
Your loss is shared by all of us who knew Steve. He was a lawyer's lawyer. Those of us who knew him before his illness have
a deep appreciation for the knowledge, intelligence and integrity Steve brought to the practice of law.
In the days before computers and online research it was Steve who organized and participated in the monthly readings and
discussion of important cases of the Supreme Court. It was Steve who organized weekly seminars in which one of us would
discuss law and procedure for the legal secretaries of Benton County. These are the tip of the iceberg of Steve's contributions.
In many ways he was the heart and soul of the Benton County Bar Association.
He was special and all of us from the old days join the family in mourning his passing
Tom Keith
Steve Sawyer
Steve was a great attorney. Bill thought he was the best, and I had the privilege of working for him, Lloyd,
and Gene. What a group they were, my sincere sympathy to each of you on your loss. He was so smart and
knew the law so well, we all will miss him deeply. God Bless you all
Lora Bradford
Steve was a great attorney. Bill thought he was the best, and I had the privilege of working for him, Lloyd,
and Gene. What a group they were, my sincere sympathy to each of you on your loss. He was so smart and
knew the law so well, we all will miss him deeply. God Bless you all
Lora Bradford
Stephen Sawyer
Hey Steve, it’s me, "The Pest". Who is going to help developmentally disabled adults now that you are gone? You never
failed to achieve justice for those who would have had none. Who will serve on advisory boards and have long pauses before
saying,"I don’t think that is going to work", Who will be a sounding board and advisor when an important issue regarding
access to justice is in committee at the State Legislature and the bill needs to come out of committee to the Floor of the
House and Senate? Who will take time to meet with a colleague about a thorny legal issue when there is no time in their
busy schedule? Who will think up clever strategies in the middle of a trial and ask for a brief recess to save the day for an
elderly man who had no one and nothing except an attorney who enjoyed real property cases just because they could be
complex. Who will say, "they’re not going to do that, I don’t think you need to worry about that", and then laugh and give
a reason why that WON’T be happening. Who will go to the Garden Center on Sundays in Bentonville and do yard work,
just because "it’s relaxing". Who will get a faraway look in their eyes and lean back in their chair and say, "I’m going to
have to think about that". Who will call you back with an answer within a day and prescribe a fix that solves the problem
perfectly. Who will be brilliant legally and decry their personal failings and say, "you know it’s probably my fault". Who
will jump on the telephone and say, "what do you want"? Who will throw parties and then sit back and watch everybody
having a good time. Who will be humble and human with a razor sharp mind that could cut you to shreds. Who will suggest
additional services for the elderly and do it long enough that the suggestions become reality? Steve, although I know you
would shrug it off, you did all these things and more. You were fun and kind and brilliant and you saw through the person
into their soul and if you liked what you saw, you would love unconditionally. Thank you for taking the time to be excellent
for so many different friends and colleagues. --
Susan M. Purtle
Hey Steve, it’s me, "The Pest". Who is going to help developmentally disabled adults now that you are gone? You never
failed to achieve justice for those who would have had none. Who will serve on advisory boards and have long pauses before
saying,"I don’t think that is going to work", Who will be a sounding board and advisor when an important issue regarding
access to justice is in committee at the State Legislature and the bill needs to come out of committee to the Floor of the
House and Senate? Who will take time to meet with a colleague about a thorny legal issue when there is no time in their
busy schedule? Who will think up clever strategies in the middle of a trial and ask for a brief recess to save the day for an
elderly man who had no one and nothing except an attorney who enjoyed real property cases just because they could be
complex. Who will say, "they’re not going to do that, I don’t think you need to worry about that", and then laugh and give
a reason why that WON’T be happening. Who will go to the Garden Center on Sundays in Bentonville and do yard work,
just because "it’s relaxing". Who will get a faraway look in their eyes and lean back in their chair and say, "I’m going to
have to think about that". Who will call you back with an answer within a day and prescribe a fix that solves the problem
perfectly. Who will be brilliant legally and decry their personal failings and say, "you know it’s probably my fault". Who
will jump on the telephone and say, "what do you want"? Who will throw parties and then sit back and watch everybody
having a good time. Who will be humble and human with a razor sharp mind that could cut you to shreds. Who will suggest
additional services for the elderly and do it long enough that the suggestions become reality? Steve, although I know you
would shrug it off, you did all these things and more. You were fun and kind and brilliant and you saw through the person
into their soul and if you liked what you saw, you would love unconditionally. Thank you for taking the time to be excellent
for so many different friends and colleagues. --
Susan M. Purtle
Steve Sawyer
Jennifer, Paul, and Theresa, My heart aches for you and your family. My prayers are with all of you. I pray God gives
you peace and the strength to get thru this difficult time. My memories of him include humor and kindness. Thank you
for allowing me to know such a great man.
With love, Jessie
Jessica Puryear
Jennifer, Paul, and Theresa, My heart aches for you and your family. My prayers are with all of you. I pray God gives
you peace and the strength to get thru this difficult time. My memories of him include humor and kindness. Thank you
for allowing me to know such a great man.
With love, Jessie
Judge! I will always remember Judge Sawyer as "one of the boys" as Jaybird Tolley used to boast. I know there must be
a celebration going on in heaven with both Jaybird and Judge Sawyer the life of the party! Judge was a wonderful man, a
great friend, and someone who could always be counted on. My prayers are with his family.
Kelly Montgomery
Steve was a mentor and longtime colleague of mine. He demonstrated in his life a true love for the law and dedication to
his clients. He pursued justice in the courtroom and in life. His friends within the bar will truly miss a friend and
colleague.
Asa Hutchinson (Sr)
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