Randall A. Sawyer, 81, of Columbia, passed away at 9:09 a.m. Wednesday March 24, 2021, at The Neighborhoods by Tiger Place in Columbia.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at First Christian Church in Mexico with Rev. Zane Whorton officiating. Pickering Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Randall Alexander Sawyer was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri on March 30, 1939, to Ralph Alexander Sawyer and Juanita Vadna (Adams) Sawyer.

Randall attended Central High School in Saint Joseph graduating in 1957.

Randall was a soldier in the United States Army having been drafted in 1961.   He served almost two years in West Germany.  He later served in the Army Reserve as a Chaplain achieving the rank of Captain.   He was honorably discharged in 1989.

Having an active and abiding faith was central to the life of his family. Wyatt Park Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was located only a short six blocks from the family home.  Randall attended there and was involved in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, youth groups, and many more activities. Later Randall graduated from Texas Christian University and Brite Divinity School and was an ordained minister.  He achieved a Masters of Divinity.

Randall served as the preaching pastor in a number of churches in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Utah before returning to Missouri where he served at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mexico, Missouri for eighteen years until his retirement in 2006 and in 2019 he was recognized as Minister Emeritus. Following retirement, he was the Chaplain at Missouri Military Academy for seven years.  After moving to Columbia, Randall and Joyce joined Broadway Christian Church.

Randy concluded his service to God as pastor for the vesper services at The Terrace Retirement Community in Columbia, MO, where he and Joyce lived.  He was known for his wonderful sermons, his sense of humor, his compassion, and his joy in life.

Randall and his first wife Donna (nee Dwyer) had two children, Rodney Alexander Sawyer (Monrovia, CA) born in 1966 and Dana Ruth Long (Mark, Rockford, IL) born in 1970.  Randall and Donna divorced in 1975, but have remained close friends.

Randall married Joyce Evelyn Thompson Davidson in 1999. Joyce survives at the home in Columbia.  Joyce is the mother of two sons, Alan Carl Davidson (Cheryl Johnson, Webster Groves, MO) born in 1974 and Zachary Ryan Davidson (April Minahan, Council Bluffs, IA) born in 1975. Randall and Joyce share 10 grandchildren (Farrah Nineman-Sawyer, Molly Beckford, Dillon Beckford, Sawyer Paddock, Holden Paddock, Carter Davidson, Luke Davidson, Cainan Davidson, Josie Davidson, and Ryder Davidson and three great grandchildren (Olivia Johnson, Owen Johnson, and Bodie Kubat). He is also survived by one brother, William Franklin (Bill) Sawyer of Rio Vista, CA.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by two sisters, Illah Jeannine Sawyer, and Jeannetta Ruth Sawyer.