Etta Marie Samuel

As a child, Marie was a little rambunctious and bit adventurous. Being the eldest child of two, she enjoyed growing up in a loving home with her younger brother, Edwin Vance Perry, who has survived her, along with her loving parents, Everette and Juanita Perry, who are both deceased.

In her early teens, Marie enjoyed singing and often won several movie tickets due to performing on a kiddie radio show to which at one point, she was able to meet Elvis Presley before he became exceptionally famous. This was a story she always enjoyed telling her kids. Throughout elementary, middle and high school, she created several unforgettable memories with her best friend, Sharon Stone, to which she continued that friendship all the way up until her last moments of life. She met her future husband and high school sweetheart, Lacy Ray Hunter, at High Point Central High and married him shortly after graduation at the age of 18 on June 17, 1965.

Marie is survived by her younger brother, Edwin Vance Perry, her children, Walter Vance Hunter, Donna LeShawn Kiefer and her husband, Eric Robert Kiefer, and Martin “Marty” Kirk Hunter, Joylyn Rosebud Ferryman and her husband, Bryan Edward Ferryman, along with her grandchildren, Tres Hunter Litten and his wife, Kerry Litten, Holly Jane Litten, Luke Forrest Samuel, Mark David Herr, II and his wife, Vivian Cristina Herr, Kaylee Litten James and her husband, Steven James, Anthony Kirk Hunter, Anna Marie Ferryman, Justin Hunter and Elora Desiree Kiefer and her great grandchildren Alyssa James, Hunter Litten, Zoe James, Callie Litten, Carter James, Eleanora Beatrice Ferryman, Autumn Litten, Saylor James, and Finnley Edward Cade.

During her lifetime, she accomplished many things to which she was most proud of to include being Dive and Rescue certified, CPR certified, Cub Scout and Boy Scout Den Mother, and Girl Scout Leader to which led to several memorable camping adventures that touched the hearts and lives of several young boys and girls. She was a proud supporter to the Veterans of America and donated humbly to Father Flanagan’s Boys’ Home of Boys Town.

Marie got to adventure outside the United States to Japan where she met a group of young Marines who adopted her into their family and was officially given the title, “Platoon Mom.” In 1995 at the age of 48, she was able to fulfill a childhood dream by visiting Hawaii, a dream she carried as a child and throughout her life.

In 1997, she met Richard “Rick” Worsley Samuel who she knew in High School and they eventually married on December 12, 1998, living happily until his death in April of 2005.

In late 2005, she met and befriended Ralph G. Stevens who brought so much love and laughter into her life which eventually allowed her to fall in love once more. Ralph lovingly stayed by her side for 15 years until her passing.