Sam Johnston

Everyone has a "Sam Story" – most people have several. Listening, sharing, laughing, sometimes crying, when these threads come together a tapestry emerges of a man who loved fiercely, lived fully, and rejoiced in the absurd.

Sam was a patriot in the truest sense of the word. His outrage that his country was attacked inspired him to bend the truth about his age and join the Navy in World War II. In decades since, he has cheered its victories, mourned its losses, and defended its missteps. Throughout his life he was honored and proud to have served.

Sam believed in family – and his "family" was always more than blood kin. When Sam cared he was there 100%. His ways of showing he cared were numerous. Sometimes, he was the Papa Tiger who took on the world to protect and defend. Other times, his keen understanding and sense of mischief gave rise to practical jokes of legendary proportion.

Sam's independent spirit and determination led him to leverage the skills he gained in the Navy and working for others in oil exploration from the Northwest Territories to the Gulf Coast in building a successful drilling company of his own.

Self-reliance was one of Sam's cardinal virtues, but he was equally insistent that you can't be a man if you can't be there for others. He gave his children the tools they would need to live independent and productive lives while never letting them lose sight of the values of compassion and community.

Sam passed from this life on to the next April 19, 2013. Without doubt, he is wryly pleased to have achieved this milestone on Patriot's Day – the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord when our country began its fight for independence.

He is survived by Leotis, his wife of 65 years; his brothers Dick and Tom; his children Rick, Kitsy and Karlan; and his grandchildren Kate, Ben, Marina, Morgan and Evan.

Truly, he is survived, cherished, and remembered by so many more.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd at Putnam Chapel, 145 Texas Avenue, Kingsland. Graveside services will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, April 29 at the Dallas/Ft. Worth National Cemetery.