Mohammad Sarwar

A memorial service is scheduled at 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 25, at First Baptist Church in Artesia for former Artesia resident Mohammad Mo Sarwar of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mo was born June 12, 1942 in Logar, Afghanistan. He passed away in Scottsdale on June 8, 2010, at the age of 67.

Mo first came to the United States to further his education in 1962, and returned to live permanently in the United States in 1964. Mo received a B.A. in Agriculture from Colorado State University and his MBA from Eastern New Mexico University. He was employed at Yates Petroleum from 1975 until his retirement in 2008. At that time he relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona to be near the Mayo Clinic where he had received a liver transplant in 1999. He was the fifth liver recipient at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. Following his transplant, Mo served on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Transplant House from 1999 to 2002, where he volunteered to be their primary fundraiser, raising more than 200,000 to initiate the startup and ongoing operation of the House to temporarily house recovering transplant patients and their families. Mo also became an advocate for organ donation and for the Mayo Clinic and was willing to participate in experimental treatment for the benefit of future organ recipients. He and his wife, Barbara, participated in support groups to help others through the transplant process.

Mo served in many capacities with Yates Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries during his 33year employment with the company. He was instrumental in organizing the purchasing and marketing departments of Yates Petroleum and its pipeline subsidiary, Agave Energy Company, and helped oversee the construction of the new Yates building in 2002. Mo was a master negotiator in business, contract and regulatory matters, and he was valued for his honesty and integrity. He served for many years as Special Assistant to the President, a role that was created for him because his knowledge, insight and advice were invaluable to four company presidents under whom he served. He was also a longterm member of the board of Directors and a trusted family advisor.

Mo is survived by his wife of 38 years, Barbara, of the family home a stepdaughter, Barbara Franklin of Memphis, Tennessee two grandchildren, Joseph Louison and his wife, Becca, and Emily Franklin and three greatgrandchildren, Hailey, Caitlyn and Isabella, who affectionately called him Grandma Mo.

The family requests donations in Mos memory be made to the Arizona Transplant House Foundation, 5811 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, Arizona 85054.