Samuel Kenneth Almany

July 26, 1944- March 15, 2025

Sammy Almany, 80, of Nacogdoches, Texas passed away on March 15, 2025 at the Hospice in the Pines in Lufkin, Texas. Sammy was born in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, the 8th of 9 children of Earl Cornelius Almany and Annie Slaydon Almany.

The family moved to Nacogdoches when he was 4 years old, and from then on, he always thought of Nacogdoches as home. Although Sammy graduated from Houston Furr High School, he moved back to the area as soon as he could for college. He received both a Bachelors and Masters in music from Stephen F Austin State University, and he began teaching in area schools prior to graduation!

Sammy met Jeanne Blackstone, the love of his life, while teaching in Cushing. They married on July 19, 1969 and then moved to Port Neches, where Sammy was initially hired to be the assistant band director. Upon the retirement of Mr Albert Long, he was hired on the be the head band director, where he led the incredibly successful Port Neches-Groves Indian Marching Band until 1994.

While at PN-G, he led the band to a record of excellence within the UIL system and the community. The band had an outstanding record of first divisions, but also had a reputation of performing dazzling and exciting halftime shows. However, Sammy’s biggest legacy was the love and respect of his students. He could help every student he taught see their potential though hard work and integrity. And, he could do it with a legendary sense of humor!

After retirement, Sammy and Jeanne moved to Nacogdoches, where he worked tirelessly in his yard creating manicured trails, flower beds, and play areas for his grandchildren. He continued to be active in the band community through judging contests and being active in the Texas Bandmaster’s Association and Texas Music Educators Association. He was inducted into the Stephen F Austin Band Director’s Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Phi Beta Mu Texas Bandmaster’s Hall of Fame in 2017.

Sammy will be missed by everyone who met him, but none will miss him more than his beloved family. No matter how busy he was with the band, he always loved and looked out the most for his “girls”. He is survived by his wife of over 55 years, Jeanne Blackstone Almany, his daughter, Betsy Almany Toner and son-in-law Shane of Nacogdoches, his daughter Samantha Almany Muller of San Antonio, and four grandchildren, Shelby and Peyton Toner, and Emily and Logan Muller. He is also survived by two sisters, Patricia Almany, and Rita Kingrey and husband, Larry, and a sister-in-law Naomi Almany. He also has so many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins both in Texas and Louisiana, who meant so much to him up until the end.

Sammy was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Annie Almany, three sisters, Earlene Baggett, Wanda Alexander, and Eddie Glynn Lantrip, and three brothers, Harry Almany, Butch Almany, and Earl Almany, Jr.

A memorial service will be held at Cason Monk -Metcalf Funeral Home in Nacogdoches, Texas on Saturday, April 5th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sammy Almany Memorial Scholarship fund, which will fund a scholarship for band students through the music department at Stephen F Austin State University.

Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.