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Obituary for Gayla A. Sawyer
Gayla Ann Sawyer, 79, of Centennial, Colorado, passed away October 6 at Lakewood Memory Care in Lakewood, Colorado, of complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born July 31, 1938, in Venice Utah, to Ariel Madero Breinholt and Arnell (Oldroyd) Breinholt. After graduating from Richfield high school in 1955 she attended the College of Southern Utah in Cedar City, UT (now Southern Utah University) where she was president of Pi Rho Omega sorority. She graduated from Utah State University in Logan in 1959 and moved to Salt Lake City. She met Richard Boyle Sawyer in Salt Lake City, UT on a blind date while he was on leave from military service in the Army. They were married on August 24, 1962 in the Manti Temple, shortly after his discharge from the Army. Gayla was devoted, loving wife and mother of three. She held several jobs; however, she is best remembered for her artistry in making wedding cakes. She was a lifelong active member of the Church o f Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and through her constant service, she had a tremendous impact on the members of her church community.
Gayla is survived by her husband, Richard Sawyer, children, Kim Thurston, Rich Sawyer, and Ryan Sawyer, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, brothers Lynn Breinholt and Donald Breinholt, and many life-long friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, brother William “Bill” Breinholt, and sister Tamara “Tammy” Anderton.
