Marian Kaye Sawby

Marian Sawby passed away peacefully on September 23, 2015 surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Virginia, Illinois on August 29, 1941. She graduated from ROVA High School, in Oneida, Illinois and attended Bradley University where she graduated in three years with honors with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. While at Bradley, she excelled at speech and debate and took second place in women’s collegiate billiards. She began her career as a speech and English teacher in Carson City, Nevada in 1964. In 1977 she moved to Sandpoint, Idaho where she taught speech and coached girls basketball and volleyball. She was a charismatic teacher and in 1997 she received the Sandpoint High School teacher of the year award for her extraordinary talent and gift for inspiring all of her students. In 1996 she married Scott Sawby, the love of her life and her best friend. They enjoyed their many years of fishing, golfing and traveling. After retiring from teaching Marian began a second career as an engraver of the custom knives made by Scott. In her words Marian said she would like her engraving to reflect a garden filled with birds, dragonflies, bees and flowers-a lasting tribute in metal to the natural world. Her work is featured in a two page color spread in a recent book by C. Roger Bleile, American Engravers III, Masterpieces in Metal. Marian always said that her greatest joy in life was the time she spent with her husband, Scott, her daughter, Erin Penner, (Jeff), grandchildren Bryce, Chance and Amber, her son, Jeff Andrews (Holli), grandchildren Aubrey and Natalie, her son, Winston Rendall (Terry), and grandchildren, Jacob, Alex, Aaron, Spencer, Cooper, and Olivia. She is also survived by her brother, Howard McKibben (Mary Ann), sisters Hazel Smith, and Peggy Redenius. There will be a celebration of Marian’s life in the events room of the old ninth grade center in Sandpoint between 2 and 4 pm on October 10th. The public is welcome.