Shirley Ann Sams

Shirley Ann Sams was born on December 6th, 1946 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Whitewater and Marie (Rattlingourd) Washington. She grew up in a household with two brothers and four sisters, Phyllis, Patricia, Johnny, Virginia, Billy, and Barbara Ann. She attended school in Hulbert and then decided on starting a family of her own. She was the proud mother of three sons and three daughters, Charles, Bobby, Mia Lynn, Angie, Bradley, and Deena. She loved caring for her family and loved time devoted to children and grandchildren. She spent 42 wonderful years with Jimmy Sams before joining in marriage on July 4th, 1997 at Swimmer Church. They loved their time spent in each others company. More importantly, she loved her church family at Swimmer Baptist Church. She could always be found singing the old gospel favorites, listened to the oldies, writing poetry and reading her Bible. When she wasn’t singing, she liked to go to garage sales, take care of her assorted pets, raise a big garden and paint in oil. She enjoyed keeping up with her grandkids, she was their biggest fan. She never missed an opportunity to gather for a family reunion, she was compassionate, kind and didn’t know a stranger in the world. For all she had to do, the Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her labors on July 15th, 2022 at her home surrounded by those that loved her. She was 75 years old, and will be greatly missed.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Mary Rattlingourd, and Blue and Lizzie Whitewater. She also joins her mother, father, sister Patricia Potts, and daughter Mia Lynn Shade.

Those left to celebrate her life include her children, Charles Anderson Shade of Tahlequah, Bobby Shade and wife Ruth Ann of Briggs, Angie Shade and Cletis Smith of Shady Grove, OK, Bradley Gene Shade of Boudinot Hill, OK, and Deena Shade of Briggs, OK. Her brothers and sisters include Phyllis Wilson and husband Sam of Briggs, Johnny Washington and wife Nina of Woodall, OK, Virginia Gourd of Lost City, OK, Billy Hendricks of Peggs, and Barbara Ingram and husband Brad of Welch, OK.

She lives on in her grandchildren Jamie Smith, Ryan Smith, Kinsey Shade, Steve Shade, Drake Shade, Nichola Shade, James Brehon, and Deanna Brehon. She also leaves seven great grandchildren, Nevaeh Smith , Alexis Smith, Kamden Smith, Kaekay Smith, Urijah Smith, Logan Smith and Gaia Smith as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Shirley Ann (Washington) Shade-Sams will be held on Thursday, July 21st, 2022 at Reed-Culver Chapel with Pastor Bill Hendricks officiating. The family will have a private family visitation. Shirley will be laid to rest at Greenleaf Cemetery next to her parents. Pallbearers for Shirley include Jamie Smith, Ryan Smith, Drake Shade, Steven Shade, Randy “RJ” Johnson, and Shannon Gourd. Her honorary pallbearers include Loy Shade, Kelly Whitekiller, Rodney Carey, Sam Wilson and James Brehon. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.