Sam Jones, Jr. August 6, 1945 - September 5, 2009

Sam Jones, Jr.

Sam Jones passed away in Houston, Texas, after a year-long battle with cancer. Sam was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, on August 6, 1945, the son of Dr. Sam and Lilly Mae Jones. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 in Hutchinson where he earned the Eagle Scout and God and Country awards and served on staff at Camp Pawnee. Sam’s scouting experience and his adherence to its oath and law would serve him well on his journey through life. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1963 where he lettered in football and basketball, was a member of Key Club, student council and was elected student body vice president his senior year.

After high school Sam served in the Navy for six years where he was a corpsman for the marines in Vietnam. He served as an Operating Room tech and flew as a medic on medevac helicopters. His heroic service in Nam earned him a Purple Heart and the Navy Cross. He married Candy Conger, of Hutchinson, Kansas after the service and enrolled at Washburn University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. From there it was off to the University of New Mexico Albuquerque where Sam received his master’s degree in political science. He then returned to Kansas and entered a doctoral program in political science at the University of Kansas.

Sam started a career in radio which took him to Springfield, Missouri, before coming back to Hutchinson to join his father-in-law at KWBW Radio. While in Hutchinson Sam was active as his daughters’ soccer coach and worked with many civic organizations such as the NJCAA Basketball Tournament. When KWBW was sold, Sam’s enthusiastic attitude and aptitude for change served him well as he worked in Pennsylvania and then radio stations in Great Bend, Kansas, and KEAN radio in Abilene, Texas. In Abilene he also worked in sales for the National Federation of Independent Business. It was during this time that Sam met his second wife and the love of his life, Fredda Gail. They married August 20, 1999, and later moved to Houston, Texas, where Sam earned a teaching degree and taught history at Hastings High School, an inner city school, where he worked until February 2009. Sam was a person of great character and attracted strong friendships wherever he went. His courteous manner and generous nature always served him well; there were no strangers for him.

So for this scout the time has come for his final vespers to be sung. Softly his earthly light did fall, his campfire faded to the Master’s call. For him we answer, “Yes,” when asked, “He faithfully did his daily task. His honor he kept always bright and he’ll rest well on this long flight to the Master’s side where angels for him will attest with a most resounding, ‘Yes,’ that in his final trials and pain, Sam did and dared all he could to be prepared and, knowing well of his own going, prepared that loved ones left behind would be cared for in their time.”

Sam is survived by his wife of ten years Fredda Gail Jones of Houston, Texas, his 3 daughters and a stepdaughter and son-in-laws: Heather Jones and Michael Lee of Arlington, VA; Katherine and Robert Paulson of Charleston, WV; Maggi and Brad Schoonover of Lenexa, KS; Adrienne and Matt Sicinski of Houston, TX; and grandchildren Caroline Lee, Isabelle Paulson, Elliott Schoonover and Reese Sicinski. His brother and family John and Lyn Jones of Overland Park, Kansas, and their children Rachel, Sarah and Hannah and his sister Susan Jones Colby of Lafayette, Indiana, and her three sons Ben, Chris and John Barnett also survive. Sam also leaves behind many close friends from Hutchinson, Abilene and Houston.

Services celebrating Sam’s life will be held at Elmwood Funeral Home at 5750 U.S. Highway 227, Abilene, Texas, with visitation Wednesday, September 9, from 5 to 7 in the evening and memorial service on Thursday, September 10, at high noon. Burial will be in Abilene at Elmwood Memorial Park following the service.

Honorary pallbearers will be Claude Champion, Dan Hanrahan, Jack Hilyard, John Jones, William Scruggs, and Bobby Weeks.

The family would like to thank Dr. R.C. Vanbiber, Dr. Nabeel Shalan, Dr. Mauricio Reinoso, Dr. Swati Gupta and the doctors and nurses at Memorial Herman Southwest and Houston Hospice.

Memorial gifts in Sam’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 22718
Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 or Houston Hospice at 1905 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77030.

Prayers for Sam

Last Monday Mom met with Houston Hospice to seek their care on a weekly basis for Sam. Mom learned from her neighbor, who is a Hospice nurse, that Hospice will help administer medications, keep the patient comfortable and help the family before the patients time has come.

Mom and Sam had already decided he could not handle anymore chemo and he was on so much medication that they needed more assistance in managing it. So, last week, Mom met with a Hospice nurse, case worker and doctor and began the process. Hospice is so helpful, they delivered his medications immediately, gave Mom a 24/7 number to call and visited multiple times.

On Friday, Sam was having trouble breathing, which was caused by the morphine. Mom called Hospice and they thought it was best to bring Sam into their facility in the Medical Center. Sam improved on Friday evening and night, but on Saturday he seemed to get worse. His breathing was better, but his restlessness, agitation and pain were worse. The doctor said if he didn't begin improving in 24 hours, he probably would not.

Yesterday, Monday (a week from when the Hospice care began), Sam's doctor said his kidney's were failing. He is unable to eat or drink much and his body is beginning to shut down. We are shocked; it is happening too fast! This is so hard, but we are accepting it is almost time for him to go. We don't want him to go, but we also do not want him to be in pain and suffering. Mom and I spent a lot of time with him yesterday (Grandma Ruth joined us in the evening), and I am spending the day with him today. Yesterday, he knew we were here and he talked a little. We couldn't understand everything he was saying, but were able to understand a lot. He understood what we were saying and even expressed some humor.

Today, Sam is resting well and is not as restless as he was yesterday. Matt and Scott came to see him this morning. His best friend Jack is coming to see him today and Maggie and Katie, two of his daughters, are flying in tomorrow. Heather, his oldest daughter, will not be able to come as she is pregnant and due around the first of October.

I am thankful he is at Hospice. They are wonderful and are all about the patient and the family. We are welcome here 24/7, can bring the babies, can bring the pets (if we had any) and they are willing to do anything for us. What a generous organization. We thank you.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Sam, my Mom, his daughters, his family, his friends and his caregivers all need them. Sam has overcome so much during the last year and a half, and I wouldn't be surprised if he overcame this too. He is such a fighter and doesn't give up easily. We have known the time would come that he would leave this world and join his Savior Jesus Christ. I don't want him to go and this is not easy (I can't stop crying), but I pray that Sam goes in peace when it is time.

We love you so much Sam. As Mom would say, "You're doing good."