Curtis Earl Sawyer

Curtis Earl Sawyer died on Thursday November 17, 2022, in Port St Lucie FL at 97 years of age. He was born to Clyde Preston Sawyer and Hannah Scott Sawyer on August 23, 1925, in New Bern NC. He grew up in Pamlico County and spent his adult life in New Bern North Carolina. He joined the US Army on November 17, 1943, and served in World War II in the Pacific theater on New Guinea, the Philippine islands, Australia, and Japan. He married Hilda Catherine Best on February 15, 1947, in New Bern NC. They raised three daughters Linda, Eileen, and Connie.

Following his Army service, Curtis was a staple in the furniture business in New Bern for more than 40 years before retiring as the Manager of Heilig Levine Furniture Company. He liked to fish and coached high school basketball. He enjoyed playing and watching basketball and baseball.

He was a lifelong member of St. John’s Masonic Lodge #3 in New Bern, serving as Worshipful Master in 1962, and was its oldest Past Master until his death. He was also a member of the York Rite in New Bern.

Curtis was preceded in death by his father Clyde, his mother Hannah, wife Hilda, sister Eloise Twist, and his great grandson Zachary Davis. He is survived by his daughter Linda and her husband Tom Davis of Collierville, Tennessee, Eileen and her husband Bill Irvine of Port St Lucie, FL, and Connie Springer of New Bern, NC; as well as grandsons T. I. and Matthew Davis, Mark Irvine plus granddaughters Marsha Dixon, Mary Summerall, and Dana Nelson as well as 15 great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild, niece Donna Fitch of Roanoke, VA and several great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern NC from 1:00 – 2:00 pm followed by the funeral at 2:00 pm on Friday November 25, 2022, with Pastor Larry Taylor, Fountain of Life Ministries in Havelock, conducting the Services. A Masonic Burial service will be conducted by the St Johns Masonic Lodge at Chapel at Greenleaf Memorial Park commencing at 3:00 pm.

Flowers are welcome, but those who prefer may make a memorial donation to Fountain of Life Ministries, 301 Greenfield Heights Blvd, Havelock, NC 28532

Online condolences may be shared at www.cottenfuneralhome.com for the Sawyer family.