Sam Johnson

Sam was born on May 19, 2003, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Kip Johnson and Carrie Johnson. He grew up in Fort Smith, where he graduated from Northside High School in 2021. He later attended the University of Arkansas, graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Political Science.

Sam was working in Chicago, where he quickly built meaningful friendships and connections and had aspirations of attending law school in the future. He had a servant’s heart and believed deeply in the success and happiness of others. Sam always had an open heart, an open hand, and an open door for anyone needing help, encouragement, or simply someone to listen.

Sam was incredibly intelligent, endlessly curious, and remarkably well informed. If a topic came up in conversation, you could be sure he had either researched it thoroughly or was eager to learn more. His family often joked, “If Sam says that’s how it is, it’s probably right.”

He loved movies and music of every generation and especially loved playing guitar for his family — even if everyone only got part of the song before he moved on to the next one. Sam had a contagious smile, a quick wit, and a rare ability to make people feel valued, comfortable, and loved.

Above all else, Sam loved his family deeply. He was a wonderful son, brother, grandson, uncle, fiancé, and friend. He was his younger brother Carter’s hero and role model, deeply admired his older brother Cooper, and was his sister Sydney’s little buddy in everything she did.

Sam was engaged to Hannah Amoudeh of Chicago, his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. Together through high school and college, they built a relationship rooted in love, loyalty, encouragement, and selflessness. After graduation, they excitedly began building their life together in Chicago, where their love for one another was evident to everyone who knew them.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Frank Yancey.

He is survived by his parents, Kip Johnson of Fort Smith and Carrie Johnson and Burt Hanna of Fayetteville; his siblings Sydney and Devin Dishner of Fayetteville, Cooper and Kaitlyn Johnson of Fort Smith, and Carter Johnson of Fort Smith; his grandmothers Janice Yancey of Fort Smith and Margaret Malloy of Rogers; his uncles Scott and Kristen Johnson of Naples, Florida; Jeff Gosey of Rogers, Arkansas; Jeff and Patricia Yancey of The Woodlands, Texas; and his cousin Cameron Johnson of Austin, Texas.

Though his life was far too short, Sam’s kindness, humor, intelligence, and love left a lasting mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Visitation will be Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 5 – 6 PM at Edwards Funeral Home, with the Rosary beginning at 6:00 PM.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 AM Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Church under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be sent to, www.edwardsfuneral home.com