Eugene Sayers

Eugene J. Sayers, 70, of Red Lake, died Saturday, July 9, 2011, at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn.

A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 14, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Red Lake, with the Rev. Jerry Rogers officiating. A wake will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at Red Lake Center in Red Lake, and go until the time of service on Thursday. Burial will be in the Family Burial Grounds under the direction of Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

Honorary pallbearers will be Henry Donnell, Rusty Donnell, James King, Charles Martin Sr., William Hill, Leonard Cloud, Laverne Omen, Adrian Omen and Frank Taylor.

Pallbearers will be Henry Sayers Jr., Brent Sayers, Clifford Skinaway Jr., Brandon Sayers, Keveon Sayers, Eugene Sayers, IV, Reginald Lussier and Christian Lussier.

He was born March 30, 1941, to Eugene Sr., and Mary (Johns) Sayers in Red Lake. He attended school in Red Lake and enlisted in the Army. He married Meryle Sayers February 6, 1980. He was a commercial fisherman and owned and operated a logging business, employing local members. He was also a foster-care parent to a number of children. He began working for Comp Health as a maintenance supervisor for the hospital compound, retiring in 2009. He then worked part-time as a heavy equipment operator/truck driver for Red Lake Builders.

He is survived by his wife; mother; son, Eugene III (Lanae) Sayers; daughters, Ramona (Clarence) Sayers, Lisa (Earl) Sayers, Lori (James) Sayers, Denise Johnson and DeAnne (Johnson) Tonsager; adopted daughter, Ashley Sayers; special sons, Reginald and Christian Lussier; 19 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; brothers, Henry Sayers Sr., and Aaron Sayers; sisters, Gloria Skinaway, Lorraine Sayers and Cheryl (Frank) Taylor.

He was preceded in death by his father; son, Patrick Sayers; brother, Dennis Sayers; sister, Leslie Buffalo; niece and two nephews.

Messages of condolence may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.