WASSOM, Sammy Neal "Sam" - b. May 24, 1954 - d. July 7, 2012

[patyrn]

Sammy Neal "Sam" Wassom died on Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.  Sam was born on May 24, 1954 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma at Jane Phillips Memorial Hospital to Eva Josephine McClurkin and Claudie Jack Wassom.

Sam went to grade school in Bartlesville.  At the beginning of his sixth grade year, he moved to Elk Falls, Kansas to live with his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Wassom.  He finished his schooling at Moline Grade School and graduated from South Elk High School at Grenola, Kansas in 1972.

Sam was a ranch hand at many different ranches in Texas and Oklahoma.  He had been a highway contractor for the United States Postal Service since 1998.  He moved to Moline, Kansas in late 1996 where he met Jane Renae Jones.  They married on March 28, 1998 in Longton, Kansas.

Sam has two daughters, Lacie Raean Spain, born May 1, 1979, and Shelby Riggs, born October 28, 1985, and one granddaughter, Leilani Raean Payne.  Lacie lives in Wichita, Kansas and Shelby lives in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  He has three stepchildren, Adam Spain, Julie Rayner, and Kristin Scott, and six stepgrandchildren, Payton, Tierney, Shelvin, Blake, Dalton, and Chase.

Sam is survived by his wife, Jane; daughters, Lacie and Shelby; granddaughter, Leilani; stepchildren, Adam, Julie, and Kristin; six stepgrandchildren; his dad, Jack Wassom; his mom and stepdad, Eva Jo and Forrest Pierce; his sisters, Melba Jo Marlin and Kathy (Robert) Taylor; stepsister, Cindy (James) White; Quinton Pierce, Debbie (Dave) Monroe, and Leonard Hitchcock; and several nieces and nephews.  Preceding him in death were Mr. and Mrs. Claude Wassom, Mr. Sam McClurkin, Vera Barnett, and two aunts.

Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 13, 2012 at the Longton United Methodist Church in Longton, Kansas with Pastor Dena Allison officiating.  Family suggests contributions to the Sam Wassom Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the funeral home.  Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com

Arrangements are under the direction of Countryside-Zimmerman Funeral Home, 206 E. Washington, Howard, Kansas 67349.

(published in the Prairie Star - 7/11/2012)