Samuel Melvin Green, 81, El Dorado Springs, departed this life on Feb. 10, 2011, in Cedar County Memorial Hospital with his wife, Fern, and daughter, Sheila Ann, at his side.
Sam was born Nov. 2, 1929, not far from the present city limits of Stockton, in an area now covered by the waters of Stockton Lake. Sam was the sixth of eight children born to John Franklin and Katie Ethelbelle (Culver) Green.
In 1947, Sam moved to California where he worked in the farming industry and later in the industrial area of southern
California. He became a journeyman welder and all-around maintenance man for Rome Cable in Torrance, CA. He worked there for almost 30 years before moving back to Missouri where he had previously bought his 30-acre home site.
In 1950, Sam married Shelia Johnson in California and one daughter, Sheila Ann, was born to this union.
Later that year Sam was called into the US Army and served in Korea. He was wounded three times and was on active duty until the end of the war. Due to his wounds, Sam received two Purple Hearts and the French Salutation from France.
With his second wife, Juanita, Sam had two daughters: Rhonda and Lannie. Lannie died at the age of five.
After Juanita’s death, Sam married Yvetta Fern Foraker in El Dorado Springs on July 7, 1979. No children were born to their marriage but Sam was a loving father to Fern’s three children - Sharon, Tamara and Kevin Minton.
Sam had a life-long relationship with God and was a member of the Living Church of God of Charlotte, NC. He was a thoughtful person, honest and a hard worker at whatever he set out to do. He single-handedly built his barn, made additions to the family home and excelled at everything he did. He and Fern enjoyed hiking, fishing and camping. Around his home, Sam enjoyed his garden and flowers and kept his lawn mowed to perfection.
Preceding Sam in death were his parents; a daughter, Lannie; two sisters, Goldie Brown and Emma Lee Lawrence; and his younger brother, Jack.
Survivors include his wife, Fern - of the home; two children, Sheila Ann White and Rhonda Green; three step-children - Sharon, Tamara and Kevin Minton; several grand-children and great-grandchildren; three sisters - Mildred Clark - Kansas City, Aleene Houston - El Dorado Springs, and Nixola (Bud) Olinger - El Dorado Springs; and one brother, Charles (Myrtle) - Pleasant Hill.
Sam will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Services were held on Monday, Feb. 14, at the Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home in El Dorado Springs, with Dana Taylor and Howard McPeak officiating. Burial followed at Hazel Dell Cemetery. Pallbearers were - Jeremy White, Dennis Taylor, Robert Olinger, Bud Olinger and Bob Shourt.
Online condolences may be left at: www.blandhackleman. com.
