Charles "Chuck" E. Sayers

Charles “Chuck” E. Sayers, 94, of Marshall, passed away on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at Sunny Side Adult Foster Care Home in Marshall.

Chuck was born in Hart, Michigan on August 16, 1927 to Nylie and May (Faucher) Sayers. He lived in Marshall most of his life and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Marshall High School in 1945. Chuck participated in numerous school activities. He was president of his senior class, shortstop for the baseball team, quarterback for the football team and was a team member of the 1944 Class B state basketball champions.

Chuck grew up in a musical family. He was singing solo in the church choir at a very young age. He and his three sisters would often perform at special events in the community with his mother playing the piano. His beautiful voice was heard every Sunday at Mass in the men’s choir for years. He sang at many weddings and funerals.

After high school he joined the United States Navy where he earned the rank of Seaman First Class. After his military duty, Chuck took classes at Western Michigan for a short period. He worked for Marshall Brass and with Midstate Machine and Tool in Marshall.

On August 17, 1950, he married Ethel Louise Harris at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshall. They celebrated 57 years of marriage together and raised nine children.

Chuck and Louise were very devout Catholics and attended St. Mary Catholic Church. He was very active in the church, helping any way he could. He worked many hours after his normal job to create an endowment program for St. Mary Cemetery. He chaired many church fundraisers and events. It was his selfless giving of time and talent that eventually lead to the parish priest asking him to stay and work full time as executive supervisor under the priest of St. Mary parish. He worked for the church until he retired in 1998.

Chuck enjoyed family time, Sunday drives, weekend ball games in the back yard, bowling with his grandchildren to name a few. He loved to fish and vacation at Houghton Lake, hunt and golf, garden, read, help his family and friends with home remodeling projects, and tend to his apple orchard.

Chuck is survived by his nine children, daughters; Michele (Gene) Willis of Coldwater, Carol (David) Pickerel of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jane (Scott) Cunningham of Lansing; sons, Stephen (Mary) Sayers of Marshall, Gregory (Kathleen) Sayers of Battle Creek, Mark (Mary) Sayers of Benton, Maine, David Sayers of Marshall, Chuck (Deb) Sayers of Battle Creek, and Joe (Karla) Sayers of Battle Creek, his 22 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise, his parents, Nylie and May Sayers, sister and brother-in-law, Maxine (Bert) Welch; sister and brother-in-law, Norma (Arthur) Eckloff; sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine (Dale) Freed.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church-Marshall or Oaklawn Hospice.

Visitation for Chuck will be on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 3:30 until 7:00 PM with the Rosary being recited at 6:30 PM at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services 723 US Hwy 27 N Marshall, Michigan 49068. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshall with Father Craig Lusk officiating.

Please visit https://kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guestbook or to leave the family condolences.