Mr. William Lovelace Sawyer of Albany, Kentucky passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at The Medical Center at Albany having attained the age of 81 years, 5 months and 2 days. He was born in Albany, Kentucky on December 10, 1944, the son of the Kimball Gray & Mary Dot (Cross) Sawyer. W.L. was a lifelong cattleman, attended Five Springs Methodist Church and a businessman who owned and operated Albany Cattle Company, Sawyer Livestock Company, Lake Cumberland Livestock Market and Glasgow Livestock Market. He began working in the cattle business at the age of 25 and never slowed down. He was well known throughout the Southern Kentucky and Northern Tennessee region for buying cattle and for his dedication to farming and livestock. He loved his farm, traveling, and was an avid fan of University of Kentucky basketball. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his paternal aunt & uncle, Dan & Georgia (Grider) Sawyer.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Hansford) Sawyer of Albany, Kentucky; children, Greg (& Sandy) Sawyer of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Lisa (& Adam) Derman of Sparta, New Jersey, William L. “Chip” Jr. (& Isabel) Sawyer of Charlottesville, Virginia, Matthew Sawyer of Chicago, Illinois; step-daughter, Caroline (& Nathan) Munsterman of Andover, Minnesota; grandchildren, Wallace Sawyer, Emmett Sawyer, Emily (& Logan) Cain, Madelyn Sawyer, Alexa Derman, Kayla Derman, Jackson Derman; great-grandchildren, Althea Collins, River Cain, Rosie Cain, Riley Cain; step-grandchildren, Reid McLean, Church McLean, Jake (& Caro) Spilman, Madeline Munsterman; along with many other relatives and friends.

A private funeral service was conducted on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST in The Memory Chapel of the Campbell-New Funeral Home with Bro. Jeff Brown and David Cross officiating. Casket Bearers were Marty Dykes, Frank Ikerd III, Mickey conner, Bryan elder, Nathan Thrasher, and Darrell Loy. Honorary Casket Bearers were Donnie Poore, Martin Poore, Michael Kay Taylor, Stephen Sawyer, Ernie Elder, Bobby Gene York, Ricky Neely, Kenneth Neely, Douglas Wilson, and Carson Hadley. In Lieu of flowers, donation appreciated to the Clinton County Community Foundation, which can be left at Campbell-New Funeral Home.

Campbell-New Funeral Home in Albany was honored to be in charge of the arrangements.