Paul Brett Sawyer

Paul Brett Sawyer left a trail of happiness where ever he went. Stories abound from Savannah, Austin, Atlanta, Fort Collins, Gunnison and Denver about Brett, the person who could tell you who the top 5 high school football recruits were in 1998 in one breath and who the main players in the transcendental idealism movement were in the next. On the surface, he had what appeared to be contradictions - the football player with a gentle spirit, the sometimes savage brother fights between he and his beloved brother Cass, and the fury that would be unleashed if anyone besides him was on the other side - but after spending more than a minute with Brett one would realize there were no conflicts in his personality, there were only complexities and in the complex wrinkles of life lie the important places. Hanging out with Brett, no matter the time or distance that separated your last chat, was like coming back home after years of being away. He happily drifted between his many friends and interests always eager to see you again, and celebrate your milestones, all the while with the smile on his facing pointing upward to his signature rosy cheeks. When Brett was excited about something - whether it was his homemade margaritas, a new band or album he discovered, or long-lost knowledge he had recently unearthed from various mediums - you were excited too because he was infectious.

Brett was predeceased by his little brother, best friend and confidante, Mr. Phillip Cassidy Sawyer, his grandmother and matriarch of his family, Ms. Ruth "Mama Ruth" Stein, and his father Jim Sawyer. He is survived by his Mother, Adelle Sawyer, who also was and remains a Mother and beacon to many of his friends. Bob Dylan wrote, "Someday, everything is gonna be smooth like a rhapsody ... when I paint my masterpiece." Brett's masterpiece was his too short but ultra-fulfilling life on this earth and everything that follows is going to be smooth like a rhapsody.

A service to celebrate Brett's life will be held on Tybee Island on November 10th. If you would like to donate to his funeral expenses you can do so at https://www.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-brett-sawyer.