William Sayre Obituary

William Harrison "Bill" Sayre Jr. 84, of Milan, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Sullivan County Memorial Hospital in Milan.
Bill, also known to many as Junior, was born on December 2, 1940, in rural Sullivan County to parents, William H and Ruth (Ross) Sayre. He spent all his life in Sullivan County first attending Maggart Elementary School House and then graduating from Milan C-2 High School in 1959. On June 2, 1963, he married Joyce Elaine Clawson at the First Baptist Church in Milan. Joyce was the love of his life and her closets were filled with blouses and dresses Junior bought her for birthdays, anniversaries and Mother's Day. Joyce also sported many items of jewelry that he purchased for her for those celebrations as well. Rarely were these gifts a total surprise to Joyce as Junior loved to show and tell of these gifts to others with a gleam in his eye as he talked of spoiling his wife on the upcoming event.
Junior is survived by four sons; Justin (Stacy) Sayre of Linneus, Missouri, Jeff (Mendy) Sayre of Moberly, Missouri, William H. Sayre III "Trae" (Leah) Sayre of Milan, Missouri, and Jarred (Missy) Sayre of Milan, Missouri, grandchildren; Tabitha (Wade) Summers, Jordyn Sayre, Connor Sayre, Maddie Sayre, Amber Sayre, Kendra Sayre, Erin (Jaden) Hinkle, Brett (Ashlyn) Sayre, Brady Sayre and Avery Sayre, great grandchildren; Timberly Elaine Mae Summers, Wesley Robert Ray Summers and Lane Hinkle, and four nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joyce in 2020, sister and brother-in-law, Wanda and Charles Wyant, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Velma and Clyde Lincoln. His children and grandchildren were key to his happiness as he taught them a work ethic and love of family that led them to being in-home caregivers for him during the last few years of his life. While he could no longer help them physically, he gave encouragement and wisdom as he helped them learn to live without their mother.
Junior farmed and raised cattle with his family. For several years he also worked for A&P Grocery and Richardson's Supermarket finally retiring from MFA of Milan after nearly 30 years.. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Milan. He served on the Sullivan County Republican Committee for over 40 years. He was also on the boards of Duncan Township and Oak Grove Cemetery for over 30 years each. He and Joyce were charter members of FFA Alumni. Junior was a collector, as a child and into adulthood he was always collecting animals to bring home including skunks, deer, raccoons, coyotes, squirrels, snakes, and a crow. He also enjoyed collecting guns, coins, well pumps and tractors. He was an avid mushroom hunter.
A funeral service for Bill will be held at 1:30 PM, Sunday, June 29, 2025, at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Milan, Missouri. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the funeral home. If you knew Bill, you know how he loved to shoot the bull and tell stories. One might say that he was a master storyteller. It would honor his memory to his family if you could share some of your stories of him with them at visitation.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Oak Grove Cemetery.