Janice Louise (Vest) Sawyer

Janice Louise (Vest) Sawyer, a longtime Sandpoint, Idaho, resident, passed away October 4, 2020, in Salem, Oregon, after an extended illness at the age of 62.

 Janice was born in Spokane on October 18, 1957.

As a child, her family lived in several different states and eventually Costa Rica, giving her a lifelong love of adventure.

The family finally returned to Sandpoint, where Janice found her true home.

A member of Sandpoint High School’s Class of 1976, she always returned to her beloved Lake Pend Oreille, no matter where her travels took her. 

Janice was an artist and humanitarian at heart.

Her many hobbies included drawing, crafting miniatures, gardening, and fishing, but she especially loved cooking, both professionally and for her family. She cooked for several Sandpoint institutions, including Panhandler Pies and the Power House, and her beer-battered Morton Slough crappie was legendary.

In 2015, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, she married the love of her life (and high school sweetheart) Brian Sawyer.

She spent her final years on the Oregon Coast, enjoying fishing, crabbing, and of course, cooking. 

Janice was preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Miller; her father, Robert Vest; and her dogs Duchess, Boo, Honey, and Maya.

She is survived by her siblings, Steve Vest of Bel Air, Maryland, Larry Vest of Sagle, Frann Johnson of Sagle, and Ed Bandelin of Spokane; her beloved husband, Brian Sawyer and dog Boomer of Salem, Oregon; her daughters and sons-in-law, Carla (Vest) and Jerome Austin of Seattle, Jarae (Wyckoff) and Tim Pearson of Spokane, Lea (Woods) and John Studt of Careywood; and her dear grandchildren Briana and Kevin Austin; Jasmaine, Trinity, and Emmitt Pearson; and Kay, Kathleen, and Keona Studt.

Janice’s last and most fervent wish was that everyone be sure to exercise their right to vote!