LEWISTON — Mary Jane Sawyer, 65, of Torrey Road, Poland died Wednesday, April 28, at Central Maine Medical Center, with her loving family at her side after a brief illness.

She was born in Lewiston, April 3, 1945, a daughter of the late Ronald and Jane (Donahue) Sawyer. She was educated in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School, Class of 1963. She then went on to graduate from Peter Bent and Bringham Hospital of Nursing.

She was the head nurse at Rocky Hill Veterans Hospital in Connecticut, until she was involved in a serious automobile accident that left her in a wheelchair and she had to retire in 1989. After she retired, she moved to Poland with her longtime companion James D. Gilbert, who devoted his life to taking care of her after the accident. Moving to Poland allowed her to be closer to her family and she enjoyed all the family gatherings at her home. She also enjoyed reading, going out to eat, playing Scrabble, watching her game shows on TV and her QVC.

She touched everyone who met her and will be missed by all especially her family.

She leaves two sisters, Peggy Gatchell and her husband, Richard, of Poland and Suzan Sawyer-Bouley and her husband, Roger, of Litchfield; two brothers, Ronald Sawyer and his wife, Kit, of Auburn and William Sawyer and his companion, Carol Crockett, of Bethel; an aunt, Ruth Bell of Lewiston; step dad, Jerry DerBoghosian of Lisbon; and many nieces and nephews whom she adored.

She was predeceased by her companion, James Gilbert in 2006.


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