1929 – 2014

NORWAY — Gloria Bradford Trethewey Sawyer passed away on Monday, Jan. 20, five days after celebrating her 85th birthday, following a brief, but intense battle with renal cancer.

Gloria and her twin, Marilyn, were born in Livermore Falls on Jan. 15, 1929, to John William and Florence Niles Trethewey. She was educated in the Auburn school system, graduating from Edward Little High School in 1946. She received her teaching certificate from Farmington Normal School and Maine School of Commerce. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maine at Orono. In 1952, Gloria married Alton “Bucko” Sawyer.

She taught business education and English for many years in the Bridgton and Oxford Hills school systems. Afterward, she worked with her friend, Avis Greene, at the Paris Public Library.

Gloria was a member of the First Congregational Church in South Paris. She was a member of the church choir, the Thalian Club and the Ladies’ Circle. Through the years, she served on several boards and committees at the church. She was a fixture in the church kitchen, providing the community with good cheer and great food.

Gloria was also extremely active in her community. She was a member of the former Norway-Paris Business and Professional Women organization. She was a charter member of the Mollyocket Chorus. Most recently, she was a member of Maine Teachers’ Association, an officer with Oxford County Retired Teachers, AARP and Christian Women United. She was also a member of Stephens Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and enjoyed her membership with the readers’ group at Paris Public Library. She loved traveling, music and theater, especially the Maine State Music Theater and Oxford Hills Music and Performing Arts Association (OHMPAA).

Gloria was an expert knitter and belonged to the Western Maine Knitting Guild. There are many in the area who have received one of her custom-made Christmas stockings, hats, mittens, sweaters or afghans.

Gloria is survived by her twin sister, Marilyn “Midge” Leighton; her children, Marcia Cylik and her husband, Richard, Kenn, Brenda Mason, and Philip and his wife, Suzanne; numerous grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband; her parents; two children, Nancy Mason and Dennis; and grandsons, Reginald Paine and Edward Sawyer.