Sam Houston

Sam passed away peacefully in his home September 18, 2020. Recently, many people have resented being quarantined at home. However, Sam felt lucky to spend extra time with his loving wife, Antoinette. They spent the time reminiscing about his life well lived. Sam and Antoinette (Toni) celebrated forty three years of marriage in August. They met in 1974 at the Newman Center, where Sam lived while attending the University of Utah, before he completed his education at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. Together, they built a wonderful life, first in Salt Lake and later in Austin, Texas. Throughout his career, Sam worked as a CPA and was known by colleagues as an accounting and auditing expert. Sam cheered and supported Antoinette as she dedicated forty years to being a Catholic educator.

Sam was proud of his career, but his most treasured accomplishments were his two daughters, Melanie and Katie. He raised his girls to be self-sufficient, independent women. He enjoyed taking them fishing, camping, and target shooting. Much to Antoinette’s chagrin, they engaged in “male bonding” and other shenanigans. He coached little league softball games where he taught them they could “hit the ball out of the park, slugger” just as good, if not better, than the boys. Instilling in them a love of nature, Sam, Antoinette, Melanie, and Katie enjoyed camping in the mountains. Raised near the Uinta mountain range, Sam especially enjoyed Octobers in Utah, many of which he spent traversing the mountains during deer and elk season.

To Sam’s great joy, both daughters followed in his footsteps and graduated from Westminster College in Salt Lake City and even took accounting classes from his former professors. Like Sam, Katie became a CPA and joined the auditing profession. Sam became her favorite and most frequent consultant when she taught tax courses to CPA candidates. Melanie followed Sam’s dream of going to law school, becoming an attorney, and later becoming The Honorable Judge Melanie Houston. From then on, Sam proudly announced, “Here come the judge, here come the judge” any time she visited.

As both daughters launched their way into the world, the family remained close, adding two sons-in-law, Brandon and Cory into the fold. The six of us remained a tight-knit family, even traveling the world together. We explored Paris, Vienna, Budapest, and nearly all of Germany which created some of Sam’s best memories, stories, and jokes. Always taking his role as Dad seriously, Sam spent many hours with Melanie and Katie teaching them his tricks and techniques in photography. True to form, he viciously competed with them for the best “shot” with the matching DSLR cameras he gave them.

Sam was blessed with many close friends over the years, spending countless hours sipping coffee, playing cards, bestowing his financial wisdom, and most importantly, sharing his remarkable sense of humor with all. When asked for advice, he would pour two large cups of piping hot coffee and ask his first question, “Do you have a budget?”

Sam was a loving husband, an adoring father, a stalwart friend, and probably the funniest man in Texas. Those who spent time with him recently know he faced his illness with grace and dignity without a single complaint.

We would be remiss if we failed to thank the amazing staff of Texas Oncology- Round Rock, particularly Dr. Beth Hellerstedt, for giving us bonus time that we filled with priceless memories and laughter.

We wish to thank you all for being a part of the 65 exceptional years he lived. He will be greatly missed and remembered as a man of integrity who dearly loved his family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Blessed Sacrament School, Sandy, Utah (specifically for student scholarships), to which Sam and Antoinette give credit for helping raise daughters of good moral character; or Westminster College of Salt Lake City, Utah (https://westminstercollege.edu/about/giving/make-a-gift). Donations may also be made to Texas Oncology Foundation (https://www.texasoncologyfoundation.org/giving/donate-online), with our profound respect and gratitude for the care they give each patient.