Galt Fire Chief Philip Sayer, a 67-year-old resident of Galt, died early Friday evening, Dec. 14, 2007 at the Liberty Hospital, where he had been a patient for two days.
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Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, 2007 at the Grundy R-5 School gym in Galt. Bro. Stan Richardson and Harry Clifton officiated. Eulogies were given by Steve Pausell and Bill Westhoff.
Shelly Searcy was the pianist. Singers were Robin Griswold, Charla Pipes and Shelly Searcy, who sang “The Lord is My Shepherd.”
Pallbearers were Roy Lee Carmack, Ed Jackson, Joe Axtell, Jack McDonald, Derrick Stonger and Donnie Chapman.
Honorary pallbearers were Steve Pausell, Bill Westhoff, Jim Colderd, Bill Farr, Jim Coffin and Loyd Canning.
Burial was in the Resthaven Memorial Gardens, north of Trenton.
Mr. Sayer was born on Nov. 4, 1940 at Trenton, the son of James Rudolph “Rudy” and Dorothy Mae Harris Sayer. He was raised on a farm south of Trenton and graduated from Trenton High School in 1958. After high school, he worked on pipeline construction and then hauled grain before moving to Galt and beginning employment as the utility supervisor.
He was married on Oct. 23, 1979 to Roberta Sharp at Independence. He was a partner with Tom Eads and they owned and operated Payne’s Furniture and Carpet from 1973 to 1978. In addition to the furniture store, he also began in the farming operation of Sayer Farms with his dad and brother. In 1975, they also began Sayer’s Dozing and Excavating.
A large part of Philip’s life was dedicated to the fire service. In 1965, he established the volunteer fire department in Galt, where he served as fire chief since its beginning. He served on the board of directors of the Firefighters Association of Missouri for 30 years. He also served on the board of directors for the Firefighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri, the Missouri Association of Fire Districts and the National Volunteer Fire Council as well as other various fire service establishments. He was an instructor for the Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute for 25 years, specializing in farm-related rescue courses. In 2003, he was awarded Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year from the Firefighters Association of Missouri, the Volunteer Firefighter of the Year from the National Volunteer Fire Council and the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year from Fire Chief magazine.
Philip was a member and trustee of Galt Christian Church, a charter member of the Galt Lions Club and served many years as the chief of the Galt Fire Department.
Philip is survived by his wife, Roberta Sayer, of the home, north of Galt; a daughter, Caryee, now Mrs. Greg Smith of Warrensburg; two sons, Terry Wynne of Galt and Tony Wynne of Laclede; one brother, Dr. Paul Sayer of Homer, AK; four grandchildren, Lynnea and D.J. Smith, Trenton Wynne and Jenna Stonger; and one great-grandson.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Douglas Sayer.
The family suggests memorials to the Show Me Home at Galt or the Missouri Firefighters Association Memorial Founda-tion. These can be left at or mailed to the Payne Funeral Home at PO Box 37, Galt, MO 64641.