Obituary for Clair B. "Hank" Sawtelle
Clair B. Sawtelle of Ogunquit, Maine passed away on Wednesday December 23 at the age of 89. After a few months of declining health Clair died peacefully at his home with his beloved children by his side.
Clair was born in Shirley, Maine on April 12, 1931 to Wilson W. Sawtelle and Constance M. Sawtelle. Clair was the youngest of three sons.
He started working in the logging industry at a young age and loved working in the woods. He enjoyed reminiscing about his experiences, and everyone loved hearing his stories.
He enlisted in the Navy in June 1948 and served until June 1952. He served as an engineman on LST 279 while in the Navy although his dream was to serve on a fast-moving destroyer. He had many adventures during those years including the time he hitchhiked from Puerto Rico via boat, train, car to his family home in Shirley, ME.
He met and married the love of his life, Catherine J. Sawtelle (known lovingly as Kay) in Shirley. He always said the moment he saw her that was it, there was never anyone else. They married October 4, 1953 and had 52 years together until Kay’s passing in 2005.
Clair started working as an apprentice at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME in July 1959. He worked his way up through the ranks to General Foreman of Shop 38 and retired April 30, 1986. During his years there he met many great men and created many friendships that lasted a lifetime. His shipyard buds knew him by his wearing of his hard hat crooked and gave him a nickname and always referred to him as “Hank”.
Clair is survived by four children Valerie Brown (Ron), Dori Randall, Anita Simpson (John) and Wilson Sawtelle (Eva), 8 grandchildren (Jay B. Brown(Dawn), David Sevigney (Nicki), Brandi Schulze (Jeff), John Simpson (Jessica), Jamie Simpson, Josh Sawtelle Larimar, Darryl Sawtelle, Vivan Lizzotte (Arsine), his beloved 10 great grandchildren; as well as his brother Darrell (Bee) Sawtelle.
Service arrangements will be announced at a later date.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Clair‘s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, PO Box 910, Wells, ME 04090.
Clair was born in Shirley, Maine on April 12, 1931 to Wilson W. Sawtelle and Constance M. Sawtelle. Clair was the youngest of three sons.
He started working in the logging industry at a young age and loved working in the woods. He enjoyed reminiscing about his experiences, and everyone loved hearing his stories.
He enlisted in the Navy in June 1948 and served until June 1952. He served as an engineman on LST 279 while in the Navy although his dream was to serve on a fast-moving destroyer. He had many adventures during those years including the time he hitchhiked from Puerto Rico via boat, train, car to his family home in Shirley, ME.
He met and married the love of his life, Catherine J. Sawtelle (known lovingly as Kay) in Shirley. He always said the moment he saw her that was it, there was never anyone else. They married October 4, 1953 and had 52 years together until Kay’s passing in 2005.
Clair started working as an apprentice at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME in July 1959. He worked his way up through the ranks to General Foreman of Shop 38 and retired April 30, 1986. During his years there he met many great men and created many friendships that lasted a lifetime. His shipyard buds knew him by his wearing of his hard hat crooked and gave him a nickname and always referred to him as “Hank”.
Clair is survived by four children Valerie Brown (Ron), Dori Randall, Anita Simpson (John) and Wilson Sawtelle (Eva), 8 grandchildren (Jay B. Brown(Dawn), David Sevigney (Nicki), Brandi Schulze (Jeff), John Simpson (Jessica), Jamie Simpson, Josh Sawtelle Larimar, Darryl Sawtelle, Vivan Lizzotte (Arsine), his beloved 10 great grandchildren; as well as his brother Darrell (Bee) Sawtelle.
Service arrangements will be announced at a later date.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Clair‘s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, PO Box 910, Wells, ME 04090.