Sammie (Sam) R. Voss, of Dayton, Arkansas passed away on his 76th birthday, August 31, 2022, at Baptist Health Hospital. Sam was born in Ada, Oklahoma, to Si and Morna Voss and was of the Protestant faith. He graduated from Tahlequah High School and from the Oklahoma State Technical University in Okmulgee with a degree in Drafting/Design. In 1968 he volunteered for service in the U.S. Navy, serving with Distinction in the Seabees in Vietnam through 1971.
Upon returning from Vietnam, he began his professional career with the Mott Architecture firm in Muskogee, transferring shortly to the office in Fort Smith. The firm later became MAHG Architecture from which he retired in 2009 as a principal owner. A few notable projects include the Fort Smith Regional Airport, River Front Pavilion and Bell Tower Campus Green at UAFS. One of his favorite projects was working with Ralph Mott on the restoration of Old Main at the University of Arkansas. In addition, on the U of A campus, Sam participated in the renovation of Barnhill Arena, the HYPER Building and Bud Walton Arena. While the majority of these projects were in Western Arkansas, he also contributed to the significant growth of the Donrey Media Group in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nevada and Hawaii.
A fan of country music, Sam’s favorite artist was Merle Haggard, attending dozens of his concerts and performances across the country. Born in Oklahoma, Sam was a natural University of Oklahoma athletic fan. When OU was on television or radio, competing noise was not allowed.
Sam enjoyed vacationing with family in the Florida Panhandle and exploring new places from Europe to the Northeastern U.S., Canada to Alaska, and Hawaii to South America and the Caribbean. As active as he was, Sam’s favorite place was on his farm with his wife Kay. He was always happy to come home.
Sam will be greatly missed by his surviving family. His loving wife of 44 years, Kay; one daughter, Kimberly Vest and husband Jerry, two sons, John Jones and Tony Jones and wife Denise, one sister, Frances Wilkie, seven grandchildren: Kelly Wyatt, Colby Gibson, Ashlee Milton (Keefer), Kressa Schuett (Blake), Andrew Jones (Olivia), Alli Thompson (Broderick), and Luke Jones, seven great grandchildren: Emry, Nora, Eastyn, Dyllan, Auna, Lee and Hayes, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Sam and his family were and are appreciative of Lynn Sanderson, Kay’s brother, for the years Lynn assisted Kay in her care and support of Sam in his health challenges. Sam and Lynn had always been “Kin”. Their time together forged a deep friendship.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Barbara Voss and brother-in law Delman Wilkie.
Graveside service with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home in Greenwood. Visitation will be Monday, September 5, 2022, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home.
Honorary pallbearers will be Lewis Ferguson, Galen Hunter, Rob Dodd, Bob Wells and John McReynolds. Pallbearers will be Jerry Vest, John Jones, Tony Jones, Colby Gibson, Andrew Jones and Luke Jones.
Memorials may be made to the Sondra Kay Voss Endowed Scholarship at UAFS, P.O. Box 3649, Fort Smith, AR 72903 or the Clearing House Guild Meals for Kids Fund, 4420 Wheeler Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
