John A. Sayers, 86, of Frenchville died on Friday at the Brookville Hospital. He was born on July 2, 1925 in Frenchville, a son of the late Joseph and Emma M. (Scherzer) Sayers.
Mr. Sayers retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps after 24 years of service, which included World War II, Korea and Vietnam. In addition to receiving the Combat Action Award, he received two Presidential and one Naval Unit Citation among many other decorations while in combat with the 1st Marine Division on Peleliu and Okinawa in the Pacific area.
He received another from the President of Korea during the conflict. After World War II, he served in North China as a railroad guard until returning home in March 1946. He then served with the 1st Marine Division in Korea from 1951-1952. Finally, his Vietnam duty in 1966 consisted of Battalion Sergeant Major liaison duties.
Mr. Sayers was employed from 1967 until retiring in 1982 as an estate planner for the Acacia Group in Washington, D.C.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Frenchville and a life and last surviving charter member of the Mosquito Creek Sportsmen’s Association. He was also a life member of the Frenchville Veterans of Foreign Wars Leigey Renaud Post No. 8386, the Marine Corps League, First Marine Division Association and the China Marine Association.
He also was a member of the National Rifle Association, the Marine Corps Association, Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Spruce Creek Ancient Gastronomic Order of Rattling Reptiles, Sinnemahoning Sportsmen, Old Town Sportsmen, Quehanna Industrial Development Corporation, American Legion, Clearfield County Historical Society and the Deer Creek Watershed Association. He also authored six books and many magazine articles for The Northwoods Journal.
He’s survived by four children, John A. Sayers Jr. of Frenchville; Barbara A. Bennett and her husband, Michael of Bedford, VA; Suzanne M. Bennett and her husband, William of Fairfax, VA; and Joseph B. Sayers and his wife, Michele of Fairfax, VA; six grandchildren and a great grandson; a brother and three sisters, Claude Sayers and his wife, Lois of Philipsburg; Loretta Billotte of Frenchville; Theresa Billotte of Frenchville; and Mary Potter of Karthaus; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Sullivan (Barnhardt) Sayers on Feb. 5, 2008 and whom he married Aug. 8, 1953 in Concord, NC and a brother Donald Sayers.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at St. Mary Catholic Church, Frenchville at 11 a.m. Wednesday with the Rev. David A. Perry Jr. as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Saint Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Frenchville.
Military honors will be accorded at the cemetery by the members of the Leigey Renaud Post #8386 Honor Guard, Frenchville.
Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 10 a.m. until the hour of services Wednesday at the church. A Christian Vigil Service will be held at the funeral home at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, 88 St. Mary’s Ln., Frenchville PA 16836.