ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- Wayne Lee Sayers, 81, of Escondido, died at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, at his home. He was in his usual health and his death was unexpected.

He was born Aug. 15, 1927, in Parsons to Fern Sayers. He joined the Coast Guard at age 17.

Mr. Sayers worked in the aerospace industry as an experimental sheet metal mechanic and had worked at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita for a time. He worked on the surveyor that was sent to the moon.

He married Barbara Joan Russel on Feb. 17, 1952. She survives.

Other survivors include his daughter, LeAnn Phillips; three grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy Freeberg of Parsons; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Wilford and Bill Sayers; and a nephew, Ronnie Freeberg.

The service was Nov. 15 at the Alhiser-Comer Mortuary in Escondido. Burial was at Riverside National Cemetery.