Richard Sayles

Richard F. Sayles, age 69, of Lake Clear, died Tuesday December 13, 2022 on his terms, “with his boots on” and his wife Carey by his side.

Born in Saranac Lake, on January 25, 1953, he was the son of Robert and Gladys (Gardner) Sayles. Rick proposed to Carey Schweizer when she was 12 and he 17. He persisted and they finally married on October 23, 1976 at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Lake Clear.

Rick was a lifelong resident of Lake Clear and sometimes referred to himself as “a Lake Clear Stump Jumper”. He attended St. Bernard’s Elementary School and was in the last graduating class (1971) from St. Pius X High School in Saranac Lake where he was named the Class “Troublemaker”. Following graduation at the age of 18, Rick planned to attend North Country Community College but his dad had other ideas and so he went to work for his father in the family construction business. He worked and eventually owned and operated the family business for over the past 50 years. He lived by “a decent day’s work for a decent day’s wage”. While staying involved in Sayles Construction he proudly turned the reigns over to his son, the third generation of Sayles, a few years ago.

Rick is a past member and officer of the Saranac Lake Lions Club, Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club, Tri-Lakes Snowmobile Club, Franklin County Snowmobile Club, and was a New York State Snowmobile Safety Instructor. He was very proud to be a member in good standing of the Knights of Columbus Saranac Lake Council #599, where he was currently serving as the Deputy Grand Knight. In his early years he coached the Lake Clear Little League Team where he would pile the entire team and all their equipment into his Pontiac GTO and drive each kid home after practice. At one time, he was involved in 4-H and Boy Scouts. Rick was an avid hunter and longtime member of the Township 19 Hunting Club. Besides hunting, Rick’s other passion was golf. He was a member at Saranac Inn where he played with his good friends Bill O’Reilly, Tom Nash and Peter Bullard any chance he got. He was also a past member at Saranac Lake Golf Club where he played on the Friday night Men’s League. And once fall and winter set in he couldn’t wait to get to his Florida home so he could play a couple of times of week with the neighborhood boys. He loved snowmobiling, 4 wheeling, racing, fishing (even though he wasn’t very good at it) and he played as hard as he worked looking forward each year to the Annual Fish and Puke with his old buddies: Gerry Gillmett, Mike Adams and a whole slew of others. He was a loving husband, father and “Papa” and will be missed very much.

Rick is survived by his wife Carey, one son Erick (Erin) Sayles of Lake Placid, one grandson Riley Sayles of Lake Placid, two brothers Thomas J. (Elizabeth) Sayles of Queensbury, James (Holly) Sayles of Tupper Lake, two sisters Teresa Sayles of Massena, and Gabrielle (Randall) Thwaits of Lake Clear, one sister-in-law Cindy Sayles of Los Angeles and many nieces, nephews grand nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and two brothers Michael S. and Robert C. Sayles.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Tuesday December 20, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 3:30 PM at St. Bernard's Church, in Saranac Lake with Rev. Paul Kelly officiating. Burial will take place at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Lake Clear at a later date.

Friends wishing to remember Richard F. Sayles may make memorial contributions to Knights of Columbus Saranac Lake Council #599 or the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.