Cecelia G. (Burns) Sawyer (1965)

BURNS, DOBBS, PURCELL, SAWYER

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart
Date: 9/3/2006 at 20:19:51

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, October 13, 1965

MRS. JOHN K. SAWYER, Winterset

Mrs. John K. Sawyer of Winterset, one of the community's most widely known women, died Saturday, Oct. 9, at Memorial hospital in Winterset. She was 71 yars of age, and had been in failing health for about six months.

Mrs. Sawyer had been a resident of Winterset since 1923. She was a past president of the Iowa department of the American Legion auxiliary, and was prominent in women's club and Democratic party affairs of her state and community, and of St. Joseph's Catholic church here. For the last eight years she had been a model at Younkers store in Des Moines.

Mrs. Sawyer was a native of Naugatuck, Conn., where she was born June 14, 1894. She was the former Cecelia G. Burns, daughter of Thomas and Mary Purcell Burns, She was educated at Naugatuck High school, Columbia university in New York City, and Michigan
Normal school of Physical Education at Battle Creek.

From 1917 to 1920 she was owner and operator of the Durling Studio of the Dance in New York City, where Radio City now stands. During that period also she served as one of the first resident social workers with the Carroll club in New York City, and was leader of the first Catholic Girl Scout troop in that city.

She was married to John K. Sawyer of Winterset in Denver, Colo., on Aug. 28, 1921. They made their home in Wyoming until coming to Winterset in 1923.

During her life in this community she was active in the American Legion auxiliary, of which she was past president of Green-Rogers unit, past sixth district president, and past president of the Iowa department. She also held various other positions on state and national
committees of the auxiliary.

She was a past president of the Altar and Rosary society at St. Joseph's Catholic church in Winterset, a member of the Child Welfare club and a leading member of the Democratic party in Winterset. She also operated a dance studio here for many years.

She is survived by her husband and three sons, John B. Sawyer of Dubuque, Robert W. Sawyer of Minneapolis, Minn., and Steven J. Sawyer of Milford, Conn. She also leaves 12 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Helen Dobbs of Puerto Rico.

Rosary services were held for Mrs. Sawyer Sunday from the Collins Funeral home, and the funeral services on Monday from St. Joseph's church, conducted by the pastor, the V. Rev. Msgr. John W. Higgins. Burial was made in the Winterset cemetery.

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