Harry Lawton

Sawyer Jr

Harry Lawton Sawyer, Jr., devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away September 18, 2026.

He was known for his dedication to the law, honesty, integrity, leadership and love for his family. He was a great public servant with a quick wit and sense of humor and a gift for debate and public speaking. Harry was born on May 29, 1950, in Key West, Florida. He was a true Key West Conch. He attended the public schools, was a paper boy, also played baseball on the Shriners team and was a member of the Masonic Demolay youth group.

While in Key West High School he participated in the extemporaneous speaking club for which he won awards and the Key West High School band. He worked his way up through the years to the order of the arrow in Boy Scouts. He later participated again in the Boy Scouts with his grandson Reny. During his high school years he worked at the San Carlos movie theatre, Bevis-Lewis Chevrolet, A&R Ambulance and Johnson’s Ambulance.

He met the love of his life, Mary Malby in 1968 at a Boy Scouts event where her father and brother participated. He converted to Catholicism in 1969 at St Mary Star of the Sea Church. Mary and Harry were married in 1970 and were blessed with two daughters, Cheryl Garcia (Reinardo), and Kimberly Malott (Peter). Three grandchildren Reny Garcia (Neilany), Alina Figueroa (Joey) and Kaitlyn Malott. Four great-grandchildren, Zaylie Figueroa, Romeo Garcia, Kyson Figueroa and Raiden Garcia. He was an amazing father and grandfather. He also leaves behind his sister Alice Cervantes (Raul), brother Vernon Sawyer (Sharon) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as all the extended Malby family and great longtime friends who became family Aixa and Ruben Trevino.

Harry worked at the Sears automotive store for a few years in the early 1970’s and then he entered into law enforcement with the Key West Police Department as a Patrolman. During his first years there he would voluntarily spend a day off each week at the juvenile detention facility helping the teenagers there. He later became a Deputy at the Monroe County Sheriff Department and advanced to Detective. He enjoyed telling the stories of his undercover work during the smuggling days in the Florida Keys where he worked with several law enforcement agencies from throughout Florida. Harry was one-of-a-kind law enforcement officer who could befriend or remain friends with those who had been incarcerated. He then ran for Supervisor of Elections of Monroe County in 1988 and was the first Republican ever elected to that office. He continued to run and was re-elected every four years until his retirement in 2012 when he and Mary moved to Callahan, Florida.

He had a significant role in the contested Presidential election of 2000. All forms of media outlets from Florida and the Florida Keys interviewed and observed him and the staff of the Supervisor of Elections office. He was well known for the honesty and transparency of his office and the elections process in the Florida Keys. He took great pride in his responsibilities to teach the public and run fair elections no matter what political party.

Harry was a member of the Masonic Dade Lodge #14. He held several offices and in 1984 he became Master of the Lodge. He later became the President of the Key West Shrine Club in 1997. He was also a member of the Callahan Masonic Lodge #32.

Harry liked to play his guitar and in the late 1980’s along with Mary joined the musical group Malachi at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church for a few years. After moving to Callahan they became members of Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church.

Harry belonged to several organizations and clubs in Key West including the Arcturus Club, Lions Club, Literacy volunteers and Crime-stoppers. 

Harry was preceded in death by his parents Harry L. Sawyer, Sr. and Elizabeth Harrington Sawyer, brother Cyril Sawyer, and nephews Raul Cervantes, III and Robert Cervantes. 

A funeral mass will be celebrated on October 10, 2026, at 10:00 am. The mass will be held at the Stations of the Cross Garden near the grotto of the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea, 1010 Windsor Lane, Key West, FL 33040. Donations in remembrance may be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital or the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea School. Arrangements made by Castillo and Thurston/Key West Mortuary