Joan Janet Sayre passed into God's heavenly kingdom on February 9, 2010. A celebration of life will be held Friday, February 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City, KS. with Lay Minister Brad McCoy and Rev. Dick Robbins officiating. Burial will follow at the Ensign Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, February 11, from noon until 8:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Joan was born September 14, 1920 near Macksville, KS to Elmo and Elsie (Nelson) Reed. She lived in Ensign, KS most of her life. After graduating from Ensign High School, Joan attended the Venus Academy Beauty School in Wichita subsequently working at the Gillette Hotel Beauty Shop in Manhattan. On January 19, 1941 she married Norris Sayre at Manhattan, KS. After 66 loving years together, Norris passed away April 29, 2007.

Joan was a homemaker, devoted wife, and loving mother. She also worked as a U.S. Postal clerk for many years at the Ensign Post Office. Besides her devotion to her family, Joan had a great love for music. She learned to play the piano from her mother at an early age and began playing regularly for church at age 13. Later in her adult life she mastered the organ and continued throughout her life as organist/pianist at the Ensign United Methodist Church until 2003, when she and Norris moved to Dodge City due to failing health.

In addition to her love of music, Joan enjoyed working with stained glass, furniture refinishing, gardening and flowers, as well as collecting recipes and cooking. She was a member of the Ensign United Methodist Church, the Women's Society of Christian Service, and the Ensign Homemaker Extension Unit. She was also a volunteer in the local Cub/Boy Scout organization.

A brother, Nelson Reed of Raleigh, NC, and an infant daughter, Susan Joan, preceded her in death as well as her parents.

She is survived by two sons: Michael Sayre and wife, Dorothy, of Tempe, AZ and Steve Sayre and wife, Margo, of Ensign, KS; sister-in-law, Bev Sayre, of Lawrence, KS; one granddaughter, Jenny (Sayre) Mitchell and husband, Justin, Hutchinson, KS; and four grandsons: Gregg Parsons and wife, Katie, Seattle, WA, Scott Parsons and wife, Donna, Boulder, CO, Matt Sayre and wife, Katrina, Taos, NM, and Jason (JK) Sayre and wife, Megan, Bennett, CO. There are seven great grandchildren: Montana Parsons, Jessica Parsons, Krista Parsons, Karl Parsons, Rebekah Mitchell, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Levi Sayre.

Memorials may be made to Presbyterian Manor of the Plains, Dodge City, KS. Ensign United Methodist Church, or the charity of donor's choice, in care of Swaim Funeral Home 1901 Sixth Avenue, Dodge City, KS 67801. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guestbook at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.