Colonel Edwin M. Sayre (Ret.), 98 died Thursday, October 23, 2014 at his residence.
   Funeral service with Charles Kuhn officiating will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in the Breckenridge Cemetery.
   Ed was born on December 19, 1915 to Arthur Neul Sayre and Edna Yarbro Sayre on an Indian reservation in New Mexico near the Hila River.
   His early years were spent living on his family’s horse ranch near Silver City, New Mexico, the family moved to Breckenridge after hearing of the oil strike.
   In 1940 Ed joined the Breckenridge National Guard Company L, 36th Division, that was activated at the start of WWII.
   In April 1940 Ed passed the Army Officers test and became a Second Lt., and after hearing paratroopers made an extra $100.00 a month, he volunteered for parachute training.
   Upon completing parachute training he was promoted to Capt. of “A Company”. He met and married Betty Mavrico in Germany in 1946.
   Ed retired from the Army in 1968 with over 30 years of service as a full Colonel. His wife Betty also retired from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.
   Ed was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, The Legion of Merit/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Infantry Badge for WWII and Korea, Masters Parachutists Wings with over 300 jumps, of these he has two Silver Stars for

combat jumps, Ed also has 3 Purple Hearts.
   After his Military retirement he returned to Breckenridge. Ed served as Chamber of Commerce Director, YMCA, Breckenridge Rotary Club, West Texas Council of Governments, Texas Farm Bureau, Breckenridge Housing Authority Board, and the Stephens Memorial Hospital board.
   Mr. Sayre was vice-president of Citizens National Bank for 6 years. Ed was an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as treasurer and Sunday School Teacher.
   He is survived by eight nephews, Bob Dye of Baird, Tom Dye and Edwin Dye both of Abilene, Arthur Sayre Jr. of Corinth, John Sayre of Breckenridge, Larry Sayre of Grapevine, Frank Sayre of Hawley, and Jim Sayre of Dallas; a niece, Sharon Sayre Riley of Abilene; sisters-in-law, Mary Sayre of Breckenridge and Mildred Sayre of Abilene; and numerous great and great-great-nephews.
   He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Betty, brothers, Neull Sayre and Kelly Sayre; and a sister, Edna Sayre Dye.
   Memorials donations may be made to the Breckenridge Library, Stephens County Humane Society, or the Wounded Warrior Project.
   We offer our many thanks to Ed for his great contributions to our country, our city, our church, and our family.

[Published online by Melton-Kitchens Funeral Home]

Grave marker of Edwin M. Sayre in Breckenridge Cemetery, Breckenridge (Stephens county), Texas.

Beginning in November 1946, Major Sayre served as the Battalion Commander, 3rd Bn, 508th Parachute Infantry, Frankfurt, Germany.

He remained as the 3rd Bn C.O. when the unit was rotated back to the U.S.

By 1 December 1946 he had been shifted to the role of Senior Advisor-Reserve Airborne Division, in Atlanta, GA where he remained until July. 1947.

He retired as a Colonel in 1968.