Dean Gray Sayers

Dean Gray Sayers, one of five children of Mabelle Merle (Rogers) and James William Sayers, was born April 24, 1925, in Marengo, Iowa. Growing up in Marengo, Dean graduated from Marengo High School. He then began his life-long career in farming.

In 1946, Dean traveled to Montana where he met his future bride, Katherine Lucille Haynie, daughter of Lena (Nutt) and George W. Haynie. The couple married two years later on November 28, 1948, at the "Little Brown Church in the Vale" in Nashua, Iowa. They lived for a time in Marengo, but spent their early years of marriage in McCone County, Montana, where three of their children were born - Scott Lee, Angela Lowell, and John Gray. The family moved to Mills County, Iowa in 1955, where they were blessed with two more children - Warren Dean and Leanna Fay. In 1963, they purchased a farm southwest of Malvern where they later built a new home in 1969.

Dean was a member of the Strahan United Methodist Church, the Indian Creek Historical Society, and other various community organizations throughout the years. He was very active at the museum and with the restoration of antique farm equipment. Anytime an event was held, he was there to lend a hand, from thrashing to demonstrating equipment. Dean loved to travel and camp. He especially enjoyed the many special summer vacations spent with his family. Most memorable of these trips was camping in the California Red Woods, as well as riding mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Dean was a wonderful husband and father, a loving grandfather and great grandfather, and a good friend to all who knew him.

Dean passed away May 9, 2013, at Risen Son, at the age of 88 years and 15 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, William and James.

Dean is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Katherine Sayers of Malvern; children, Scott Sayers and wife Mary of De Soto, Kansas, Angela Blackburn and husband Mike of Malvern, John Sayers and wife Cindy of Malvern, Warren Sayers of Imogene, Iowa, and Leanna Peterson and husband Greg of Tulsa, Oklahoma; 15 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; brother Mac Sayers and wife Elsie of Marengo, Iowa; sister Sally Anderson of Santa Barbara, California; other relatives and many friends.

Memorials to Indian Creek Museum or Strahan United Methodist Church.

Interment in Malvern Cemetery.

Loess Hills Funeral Home of Malvern in charge of arrangements.