Douglas Leon Sawyer

Douglas Leon Sawyer of Indio died Nov. 15 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was 79.

Sawyer was born on Jan. 18, 1934 in Lake Stevens, Wash. and was raised in Granite Falls, Wash. with his two brothers, Donald and Gary Sawyer, and three sisters, Lois Fincher, Bonnie Lindell and Nancy Stott.

Sawyer served in the Air Force, he worked at Boeing, and after 30 years, he retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

He enjoyed building model airplanes, rollerblading, hiking and Bonsai.

Douglas is survived by his wife of 59 years and high school sweetheart Colleen J. Sawyer; children Martin Sawyer, Lisa Ball and Kent Sawyer; grandchildren Douglas Sawyer, Linnea Ball, Troy Sawyer and Kendra Sawyer; and great grandchildren Julian Ball, Hailey Sawyer and Laina Sawyer.

A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 11 at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 522 South L Street, Livermore, Calif.