Giard Sayre Jr.
The Rev. Giard “Gi” Sayre Jr. (retired), 89, of Washington, and formerly of Claysville, died Wednesday, July 25, 2018, in Washington Hospital.
Born January 21, 1929, in Pittsburgh, he was a son of the late Giard Martin and Mildred May Jones Sayre, and he resided in the Clarion County and Monroeville areas prior to moving to Claysville.
The Rev. Sayre was a 1948 graduate of Westinghouse High School and later attended Boston University Seminary.
He served the United Methodist Church for over 30 years, prior to retiring in 1994. He served the following United Methodist churches in the Western Pennsylvania conference: St. Charles, Widnoon, Putneyville, Claysville (1968-1984), Johnstown and West Newton. Following his retirement, he served as interim pastor for Amity, Bentleyville and West Washington Methodist churches in Pennsylvania and Grifton United Methodist Church in North Carolina.
The Rev. Sayre was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
He was a life member of Claysville American Legion Post 639 and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4062 in Grifton.
The Rev. Sayre was a 69-year member of the Masons (Blue Lodge) and a 32nd degree member of the consistory and a member of IOOF Lodge 1107 in Brushton and Order of the Arrow as a first-class Scout and former packmaster.
He was a former substitute teacher and bus driver for McGuffey School District. He also enjoyed photography, reading and flower gardening.
On February 21, 1952, he married Alice Mae Cain, who survives.
Also surviving are his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Linda (Robert) Miller and family Patrick (Ju-Yeon), Lillian, Logan and Michael Miller; Debby (Richard) Clutter and family Rachele and Matthew Clutter; Barb (Doug) May and family Erika (Jeremy) Avri, Abbi and Audri Dressback, Sondra (Marc) and daughter Maya Fatigati; Kathy (David) Johnson and family Jennifer (Andy) and daughter Ava Chumney, Christian Johnson, Daniel, Alexandria, Wyatt and Rebekah Johnson; Marten (Sheree) and son Andy Sayre; Peggy (Mike) Teagarden and family Jay (Janine), Jason, Jonah and Joe (Marla) Teagarden; Nancy Riggle and Clyde Thompson; and a brother, John (Barbara) Sayre and family Susan Robb and Jeffrey Sayre, residing in Florida.
In addition to his parents, deceased are two grandchildren, Zachery Riggle and Chelsey Poleski.
At the request of the deceased, there will be no public visitation. Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral service at 4 p.m. Monday, July 30, in Claysville United Methodist Church. Private burial with full military honors will be held in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Cecil Township.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Claysville United Methodist Church, 1257 Route 40 West, Claysville, PA 15323, Claysville Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 435, Claysville, PA 15323, or National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, 1158 Morgan Road, Bridgeville, PA 15017.
Arrangements are entrusted to Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home LLC, 3275 West Roy Furman Highway, Rogersville, PA 15359, 724-449-5181.
A tribute wall may be viewed and signed at www.kestersonfh.com.