Years ago, when he owned the Casco Country Store, one of Don Drew’s employees was a considerate and hard working women named Alba Sawyer.

Later in life, Drew would get to know Alba’s son Bruce as both men gave their time to the Sebago Lake Rotary Club.

“Bruce inherited those wonderful characteristics,” Drew said Tuesday. “Kind, cooperative and willing to pitch in to help anyone.”

Sawyer, 57, was killed Monday along another Windham man, 59-year-old Gregory Hoyt, in a one car accident on Interstate 95 near Old Town. Sawyer, Hoyt and two others were on their way back from a weekend camping trip.

The two other passengers, Karl Hartwell, 61, of Gorham and David Daigle, 50, of Windham, were both taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor with non-life threatening injuries.

Hoyt’s Land Rover went off the road on the southbound side of I-95 in Alton just after 1 p.m. Monday. Police said Hoyt apparently fell asleep at the wheel before the accident.

Hoyt and Sawyer were close friends who often camped together, friends said. Hoyt’s family declined comment, and no further information was available.

Sawyer is survived by his wife Linda; two sons, Brad F. Sawyer, of Portland and Todd A. Sawyer, of South Portland; and one daughter, Carrie L. Bartlett and her husband George, of Casco. His funeral is scheduled for Friday, May 30, at 11 a.m. at the Dolby Funeral Chapel in Windham.

A draftsman by trade, Sawyer previously owned Superior Design and Fabrication Company of Gorham and South Portland. Since 1997, he has operated B.A. Sawyer Associates of Windham.

Sawyer was also a member of the Sebago Lake Rotary Club, where he left a legacy of dedication and hard work. He served as president of the organization 2004-05.

“He was involved in Rotary wholeheartedly,” said member Brad Woodbrey. “He was just a really good guy.”

Sawyer was instrumental in adding car and motorcycle ice racing to the series of events offered at the Rotary’s annual ice fishing derby, he said.

“The first years of the car race, he basically ran it and got it going,” Woodbrey said.

It was after a Rotary meeting last Thursday that Don Drew, a former Rotary president as well, went by Sawyer’s house to visit with his old friend. Sawyer, said Drew, was packing up for his Memorial Day weekend camping trip.

“I don’t know what made me stop in,” Drew said. “I’m just so glad I stopped by and we had those moments together.”

Crash kills two Windham Friends