[An abbreviated version of this letter will be used for the obituary.]

In Loving Memory of Sawyer Lincoln Schwomeyer

Our hearts are broken as we share the loss of our beloved son, Sawyer, at the age of 12.

Sawyer was a bright, kind, funny, and remarkable young boy whose smile could light up a room and whose laughter brought joy to everyone around him. He had a gift for making people laugh, a caring heart, and a way of making others feel welcome and valued. Whether he was with family, friends, teammates, or classmates, Sawyer made life more fun simply by being himself.

Sawyer loved sports and competed in lacrosse, cross country, track, baseball, basketball, and golf. Through sports, he showed the determination and resilience that defined so much of who he was. He ran cross country in the Arizona heat, pushing through difficult practices and grinding it out against upper classmen.

In track, Sawyer discovered just how much he was capable of. Through hard work and determination, he qualified for the district championship meet as a sixth grader racing seventh and eighth graders, where he went on to place sixth in the 1600-meter race. One of his proudest accomplishments was breaking the six-minute barrier in the 1600, finishing in 5:55 after setting that goal for himself and working tirelessly to achieve it. Watching him set big goals, work toward them, and achieve something so tough was a source of tremendous pride for us.

In baseball, even when he was still learning the game, Sawyer gave it everything he had and made us proud with his effort, courage, and determination. He also loved playing basketball, shooting a game of horse with his dad in the street. Lacrosse was a huge part of his life for many years, and it was a joy to watch his confidence grow as his skills developed. He was fast, hardworking, and a relentless goal scorer. 

Beyond athletics, Sawyer was endlessly curious and creative. He loved video games—not only playing them with friends and family, but creating them as well. He enjoyed collecting Pokémon cards, mastering Rubik’s Cubes, writing short stories, and challenging himself to learn new things. A dedicated student, Sawyer recently won his sixth-grade spelling bee, was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, and earned the Presidential Academic Achievement Award for receiving straight A’s. He was so intelligent and it came easy to him.

Some of Sawyer’s happiest moments were found in life’s simple pleasures. He loved chicken pot pie, pasta dinners, and Sunday mornings filled with chocolate chip pancakes. He loved riding his bike to the store to pick up candy and Arizona Iced Tea, enjoying the freedom and adventure that came with being 12 years old.

Sawyer also shared a special love of movies with his dad. Whether it was a trip to the theater or a movie night at home, those moments together became some of our favorite memories. Late at night, it wasn’t unusual to find Sawyer making popcorn—usually just a little more burnt than everyone else preferred—and filling the house with that unmistakable smell, cooked just the way he liked it. He also loved chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and rarely let the freezer remain stocked for long, often reminding his mom to pick up more at the grocery store. Those little things are what we will miss most.

He also loved spending time outdoors with his family, especially on hikes, and enjoyed golfing and shooting with his dad, creating memories that will always be treasured.

Family meant everything to Sawyer. As the middle child, he shared a special bond with both of his sisters. Just as his older sister, Lilla, lovingly picked on him growing up, Sawyer embraced his role as a big brother to Emma, teasing her with affection while always looking out for her. He loved sharing popcorn with her during movie nights and spending time together making memories that she will carry with her forever. He also loved spending time with Lilla, often hanging out in her room and playing video games together. The bond they shared was one of friendship, laughter, and unconditional love.

While we will never understand why we only had 12 short years with him, we are grateful beyond words for every one of them. Sawyer filled our lives with laughter, pride, adventure, and love. He taught us what determination looks like, what kindness feels like, and how much joy one young boy can bring to the world.

We will forever picture Sawyer with a smile on his face, a Capri Sun straw in his mouth, his laptop nearby, his blonde hair messy, and his face flushed and sweaty after a run, practice, or game. This is the Sawyer we will carry in our hearts forever.

Sawyer is survived by his loving parents, Patrick and Jennifer; his older sister, Lilla; his younger sister, Emma; and his loving dogs, Aspen and Huckleberry. He was deeply loved by his grandparents and extended family, friends, teammates, coaches, classmates, teachers, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Sawyer’s memory to make a donation through Sawyer’s memorial page at https://www.supportnow.org/sawyer-schwomeyer, to be given to the athletic programs that were so meaningful to him.

Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our Sawyer.