Olan Ray Sawyer, 73, of Dyersburg, died Thursday, May 3, 2012 at his residence.

He was the retired owner-operator of Sawyer Union 76, which was located at the corner of Troy and Gordon, attended Three Oaks Baptist Church, was involved in many community affairs, such as, The American Cancer Society, The Developmental Skills Center of Dyer County, a former construction worker for Pioneer Construction Company, former farmer, former convenience store owner and former manager for All-In-One Storage.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Dyersburg Funeral Home with Bro. John Stacy officiating. Burial will be in Dyer County Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive visitors from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Survivors include his wife, Debra Sawyer of Dyersburg; a daughter, Cindy Sawyer Ware of Dyersburg; a son, Danny Ray Sawyer and companion, Alecia Gibbons, of Dyersburg; a step-son, Aaron Allen Shelby and wife, Kristy, of Oceanside, CA; six sisters, Sue Fair of Dyersburg, Catherine Mashburn of Ripley, Margaret Willis and husband, Gene, and Katie Garrett and husband, Dan, all of Newbern, Peggy Dilbeck and Etta Boswell, both of Indiana; a brother, Kenneth Sawyer and wife, Joan, of Dyersburg; eleven grandchildren, Lindsey Ford, Whitney Hill, McKenzie Ware, Brock Shelby, Ada Shelby, Destiny Shelby, Paige Shelby, Hope Shelby, Roman Shelby, Georgia Shelby and Courtney Gibbons; two great-grandchildren, Hudson Ford and Parker Daniels; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary Canada Sawyer; and a brother, David "Potts" Sawyer.

Pallbearers will be Larry Waller, Billy Hall, Marvin Robertson, Ric Goodall, Rick Morrow and Tim McCraw.

Online condolences may be sent to our website at www.dyersburgfuneralhome.net