On December 13, 2024 another one of our heroes, Thomas Eugene Sayre died. He was born on September 19, 1937 in Bridgehampton, NY. He was preceded in death by  his wife and love of his life, Nancy Lewis Sayre, and his parents, Warren and Marjorie Sayre and brother, Richard Warren Sayre. Left to cherish his memories are his daughter, Jennifer McMasters (Brad) of Poquoson, VA, his son Richard Sayre (Debra) of Carrollton, VA, his granddaughters who he loved dearly - Lee McMasters of Radford, VA, Beth (Zach) Martin of Lynchburg, VA, and Jessica McMasters of Harrisonburg, VA, and his great-grandson Emet James Martin, of Lynchburg, VA. Tom is also survived by his sister, Judy Debes of Downingtown, PA, his brother-in-law, Gil Tennant of Southampton, NY, and many nieces and nephews. Tom was a resident of Poquoson for 38 years before moving to The Chesapeake in Newport News in 2017.

Tom enlisted in the Navy in 1955 at the age of 17. His career took him to New Brunswick, ME, Newport, RI, Tom’s River, NJ, Norfolk, VA, Pensacola, FL, and Jacksonville, FL. While at sea, he served on aircraft carriers - the USS Independence, and he was on the commissioning crew of the USS John F. Kennedy. He spent one year (1964) at the fuel farm in Antarctica. During the time Tom served in the Navy, cruises were 9-10 months long, and the only way to communicate, except in the case of an emergency, was by air mail. Family separations were lengthy. He retired from the Navy in 1975, after attaining the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer.

Tom also furthered his education - he studied at Old Dominion University, Pensacola Junior College, and The University of West Florida. In 1977, upon graduating from UWF, Tom was hired by the Air Force Audit Agency and joined the Civil Service. He worked for two years at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS and then spent the rest of his career at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, VA, retiring in 1998. He was the Audit Manager for Air Combat Command at the time of his retirement.

Despite being extremely busy during both of his careers, Tom always found time for his family. Nancy was his true love, and they were married for 62 years when she died in 2021. While Nancy made houses into homes, Tom improved them. He remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, repainted whole houses, and even tore down a few walls to enlarge rooms. He also made time to attend concerts and games his children (and later grandchildren) were in. He always managed to find time to listen to his children, read with them, help with homework, play with them, and love them. He was an exceptional woodworker, and built furniture, toys, carving boards, and wooden bowls. Hundreds of the toys he made were sent with the ASP (Appalachian Service Project) team. Tom also could fix anything! When he was young, he would buy an old “beater” to commute when he had shore duty, fix it up, and sell it for more than he paid for it!

Tom’s faith in Christ showed in the way he served others. He was a dedicated and Godly husband to Nancy. He put his family first. Tom helped out many people with money, cars, or jobs. He fixed things at his church, and in his children's homes after they grew up and moved out. Tom volunteered at Jane Bryan and Machen Elementary Schools in Hampton, and at the food closet at St. Luke’s UMC, where he also served as a trustee. He did not talk much about these deeds, he just did them.

Tom was very active during the past seven years at The Chesapeake. He has served as the Chair of the Wellness Committee, Chair of the Activities Committee, and President of the Resident Council. He was the 2023 recipient of the Influencer Award at the Chesapeake.

The family would like to thank the staff and residents at The Chesapeake, especially Faye Mayberry and Harry and June Robinson, for the love and kindness that they have shown to Tom.   

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 19 at Claytor Rollins Funeral Home, 836 Poquoson Ave. from 5:30 - 7:00. Tom’s funeral will be held on Friday, December 20 at 3:30 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 300 Ella Taylor Rd. in Yorktown. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to St. Luke’s Food Closet, 300 Ella Taylor Rd, Yorktown, VA 23692, or The Chesapeake Benevolent Fund, 955 Harpersville Rd, Newport News, VA 23601.

Arrangements and heartfelt guidance through Claytor Rollins Funeral Home. 

Online condolences to claytorrollins.com.