Obituaries

Eugene G. Sayre

Photo of Eugene G. Sayre
EUGENE G. SAYRE, 73, of Little Rock, passed away March 18, 2015. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Francis J. and Sara Dixon Sayre and grew up in northern Kentucky. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1964, married and moved to Dallas, Texas. While in Dallas, he taught Junior High School and completed his Juris Doctorate degree in 1968 at the School of Law at Southern Methodist University, where he served as the Leading Articles Editor of the Journal of Air Law & Commerce. Mr. Sayre began his career as a Trial Attorney with the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and represented the IRS in numerous trials in the southwest United States. In late 1975, he relocated to Little Rock, entered private practice and represented both corporate and individual taxpayers involved in controversies with the IRS. He has also been counsel of record for numerous taxpayers in Appellate decisions rendered by the Arkansas Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a published author and has been a speaker at various professional meetings for legal and accounting professions. Mr. Sayre was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and of numerous professional associations, both statewide and federal. He was a beloved father and grandfather, soccer coach and sports fan. Preceded in death by his parents, he is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marie Dixon VanHoose Sayre; daughter, Shannon Marie Sayre Pickrell (Keith Wiedower) of Murphy, Texas; son, Dr. R. Blake Sayre (Helen R. Kelly Sayre) of Pensacola Beach, Florida; sister, Donna Louise Sayre (Steven R.) of Stafford, Va.; first cousin, Kay Scott Dorning (Richard) of Ft. Wright, Ky.; and grandchildren, Makenna Wiedower, Chase Pickrell, Gabby Wiedower, Ty Pickrell, Lainey Sayre and Keely Wiedower. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, April 11, beginning at 4 p.m., with Stephanie Donaldson Fox officiating at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.). Visitation will follow the service. Memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice. A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 6 at 2 p.m. at Hopeful Lutheran Church Cemetery in Florence, Kentucky. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Mr. Sayre's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.

Published April 5, 2015

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