Samuel was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the youngest of six siblings to David and Kathryn (Sargent) Harline. The family moved to Monument, Colorado, while he was still very young, and Samuel would certainly claim this as his home. From a young age, Samuel was always introspective. He avoided attention and would shunt the spotlight whenever it came to him. His oldest sister once called to wish him a happy birthday only to have the words leaving her mouth met by Samuel ending the call.
Samuel thought deeply. He would play outside as a child, imagining worlds and places within the space of his Colorado yard. He would stay up late reading countless books, intent on finishing anything he started regardless of how late it kept him up. This proclivity to consume books and information would play out through the end of his life. Often, Sam would work into conversation something he was reading, showing his deep understanding of the content and applying it to the conversation with fierce wit.
Samuel worked hard. He sought out his first gainful employment at the age of 15 at the local McDonald’s in Monument. He worked there for several years before working at another restaurant. In his short college career, he worked almost constantly and paid for all his own expenses, never wasting any money on trivial things. He used a laptop that would spark unless it was plugged in just the right way and had keys that no longer responded when pressed. His siblings would eventually surprise him with a brand-new laptop to better serve his needs.
Samuel was brilliant. He graduated seventh in his high school class, in spite of working a demanding part time job. He also played baritone saxophone and rugby each of his four years in high school. He was accepted to his school of choice, Brigham Young University, with a full ride scholarship. He chose engineering to be his field of study, engaging with the challenge of a rigorous career path that would ensure him an income that could support him and his future family. His commitment to his education may have been nearly as important as his commitment to his family, once bringing his homework to a movie theater so he might spend time with his siblings while also completing his assignments.
Samuel was full of love. He was deeply concerned for others, and most especially with his family. He felt anxiety about being around others, but one would never know this from speaking with him. He spoke always as an engaged listener, intent on hearing and understanding what the other was saying. His conversations contained very slight amounts of ego and varying levels of self-deprecation. He was committed to treating people well, whether they were a couple months old or several decades. One of his most important goals was getting to meet and know his extended family more closely. In all of this, he would never seek attention for himself, but would seek to give attention to others.
Samuel was passionate and faithful. He was brilliant but always recognized what he did not know. His love for God was measured in his passion to serve as a missionary, sharing the gospel for two years. He wrote and spoke of it much, but always present in his mind and heart was his desire to serve God. Even when doubts troubled him, being the intellect that he was, he would not allow those doubts to shake his faith.
Samuel’s life was a light to those who knew him and was ended all too soon. He is survived by his broad family: his mother Kathryn; his father David (Valentina Landis); his sisters Olivia (Nathan Haynie), Lindsay (Travis Rampton), Chelsea (Jordan Hoskins); and his two brothers Sean and Eric. They all loved Samuel deeply, miss him dearly, and know that to the very end Samuel loved them very much. His life was an experiment in boundless passion for and continuous investment in people and knowledge.
Samuel’s viewing will be held at 10 am on Saturday, November 28, 2020, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 950 County Highway 105 in Monument, Colorado, and will be streamed live at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88609665055?pwd=aGR1aDdYOTdBSXM4VklZK1dpdnI5Zz09. Samuel will then be laid to rest at 12 pm at 800 Beacon Lite Road in Monument, Colorado.
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