Volume 15 , Issue 12

NW Okie's Corner

Let us reflect back to the day of our graduation from high school. Some of us who graduated from high school in the year of 1966 while listening to the following music on KOMA Radio.



Remember the Beach Boys; Beatles - "Nowhere Man" and "Yellow Submarine;" Bob Dylan - "Rainy Day Women;" Bobby Fuller Four - "I Fought The Law And The Law Won;" Brenda Lee; Capitols - "Cool Jerk;" Diana Ross & The Supremes; Herb Albert & The Tijuana Brass; Herman's Hermits; Lou Rawls; Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels - "Devil With A Blue Dress On;" Paul Revere & The Raiders; Rolling Stones; and that leads us to remembering Sgt. Barry Sadler with his "Ballad Of The Green Berets."

Samuel Euguene Paris (1924-2013)

Sammie Eugene Paris, 88, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2013 in Sandpoint, Idaho in the loving embrace of his granddaughter Sheena Paris-Collins. A celebration of Sam's life was held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the Lakeview Funeral Home with Paul Graves officiating, with military honors. Sam would be laid to rest with his wife Cecelia at Pinecrest Cemetery at a later date.

Sammie was born in Chester, Major County, Oklahoma on April 12, 1924 to Earnest and Mary (Hurt) Paris. In 1943, Sam joined the United States Navy. He was stationed on the SS Francis W. Parker in the Pacific Islands. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal. He completed his naval career at Farragut Naval Station.

He married the love of his life Cecelia Mae Snyder on February 10, 1946, in Thompson Falls, Montana. They spent their lives together camping, hunting, fishing and bowling. The love and devotion that Sam and Cecelia shared was absolutely a magical gift. Their love will live on forever in the lives of their family. Together they raised Cecelia's two daughters: Celia Mae Kirkland (now deceased) and Annette Purcell; their daughter Jody Paris-Nichols; and son Sam Paris.

In his younger years Sam sang and played his "Ole Friend" guitar with his band on the Panida stage every weekend. He loved his guitar and the magic of the Panida stage. Sammie will always be remembered for his happy smile, charismatic chuckle and the way he would nod his head and blink his eyes when he greeted you. The Paris family would like to extend their thanks to the many people who shared in Sammie's life.

Sam is survived by one son Sam ( wife, Tammy) Paris of Sandpoint, Idaho; two daughters Jody Nichols (fiance, Larry Heath) of Funny River, Alaska and Annette (husband Bob) Purcell of Lakewood, California; 13 grandchildren Sheena (Derek) Paris-Collins, Sasha Paris, Casey (Starla) LaMarche, Jessica Stevens, Paul (Julie) Gooby Pavone, Natalie Pavone, Tiffany Pavone, Sunny Purcell, Bunny Ann Purcell, Rocky (Patty) Pavone, Jennifer Kirkland, Heather Kirkland, and Gregory G. Brown; and 10 great grandchildren Chloe, Isaiah, Samuel, Janel, Joshua, Jennifer, Ashlyn, Dylan, Ammon, and Arielle.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Cecelia Mae Paris, daughter Celia Mae Kirkland, five brothers, and three sisters.

Please sign Sam's guest book of your memories of Uncle Sammy E. Paris.

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