Obituary of Dean Sams

William Dean Sams age 90 lifelong resident of Rush, Colorado peacefully passed away at his home in Rush, Colorado in the presence of his loving children. He was born December 4, 1921, one mile from where he passed away, to the parents of James Robert and Della Estella (Powell) Sams. He grew up in Rush and graduated from Miami School in El Paso County. Dean proudly served his country during WWII in the United States Navy. He was a pipe fitter and a welder where he earned the rank of Seaman First Class. He served in the South Pacific aboard the USS SanSaba and earned the Asiatic Pacific Medal, the Victory Medal and the Liberation Philippine Medal. Dean was honorably discharged on March 7, 1946. On March 20, 1943, Dean was united in marriage to Martha L. Golding in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This union was blessed with six children: Yvonne, Karen, Vincent, Cheryl, Myron and Marlene. They shared over sixty-three years of marriage before Martha passed away on September 5, 2006. Dean had a passion for farming, ranching and custom harvesting. He cut wheat all over Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming and Montana. He did this without working on Sunday for which he said the Lord truly blessed him. His faith was very important to him and his values were passed on to his children through his honesty, his integrity, his sense of humor, his hard work and most of all, his love. By God’s grace and his hard work he was enabled to help his children and grandchildren further their education. Dean and Martha traveled the world. They often traveled with their children and grandchildren and loved attending the graduations and weddings of each. Branding cattle and Sunday dinners were cherished family moments that were reminders of the importance of doing things together. His legacy will continue through his children, his grandchildren, his great grandchildren, his many friends, and his church community that he loved so much. Dean served on the Colorado Farm Bureau, the El Paso County Highway Advisory Commission, the Colorado Wheat Committee, and the El Paso County Conservation District. He drove a school bus for Miami School District for 25 years. He was a charter member and helped build the Kendrick Bible Church of which he was a faithful member and a deacon. Dean was preceded in death by his wife Martha of 63 years; one brother, Paul Sams; two sisters, Erma Bevans and Vera Kinney; and a great grandson Hudson Tatum. Mr. Sams is survived by two sons, Vincent Sams (Joy) of Gillette, Wyoming and Myron Sams (Debra) of Rush, Colorado; four daughters, Yvonne Williams (Larry) of Castle Rock, Karen Gieck (Randy) of Ellicott, Cheryl Cofer (Rick) of Calhan, and Marlene Duncan (Jon) of Pagosa Springs; twenty grandchildren; and twenty-six great grandchildren.