Francis Leslie “Sam” Sampson, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 22, 2009, at Kirkland, Wash., with his daughters by his side.
There will be a celebration of his life at 10 a.m. April 25 at Gray’s West & Co., 1500 Dewey Ave. There will be a reception afterward at the family home.
Francis was born on Oct. 10, 1920, at Umatilla to Rose and Frank Sampson. He lived at Haines, Hermiston and Huntington and was a graduate of Huntington High School.
Francis served in the U.S. Air Force as a radio operator on the B-24 during World War II. After his discharge, he went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad where he worked as an agent until his retirement.
He married Kathryn Jacobs in 1950. In 1953 their twin daughters, Beverly and Shirley, were born.
He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and later with just his girls.
After his wife’s death in 1999, he again took up the sport of competition trapshooting, something he had enjoyed in the 1950s and ’60s when he was the Union Pacific Railroad agent at Wallowa. His trapshooting took him all over the Northwest as well as several trips to Reno, Nev.
He was quite competitive and often bested others many years his junior, his family members said. In all his travels, he made many friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn.
Survivors include his twin daughters, Bev Haas and Shirley Sampson of Kirkland Wash.; and nieces and nephew, Rose This, Laura Perkins and Roger Leslie and their families, all living in Washington.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Wallowa Rod and Gun Club through Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, April 02, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor