It’s difficult to think about Sam without first
remembering the bad times. He was diagnosed with
the dreaded colon cancer beast in July of 1996.
Having lost both my parents to cancer,
when Sam first told me he had it, I was absolutely
terrified. It took every fiber of my being just to
keep from screaming. I promised him we would fight
this fight together. This we did for two and a half years.
Sam was such a valiant warrior. No matter what the doctors
wanted to do: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
blood transfusion and too many blood tests and CT scans
to count, he was willing. He did it all bravely and
never gave up hope. He fought so hard with everything
that was in him right to the bitter end.
We lost the battle on December 15, 1998 at 9:30 am.
Thinking back on 26 years of marriage and trying to
put Sam’s life into a few words is not an easy task.
He was a wonderful, loving husband.
He was my best friend and a devoted father.
He loved his family very much and he loved life.
Sam was constantly learning and telling our children
that one of the most important things in life is education.
After we married in 1972, he earned an associate degree
and a bachelor’s degree all in the evening.
He did this while working a full time job, taking care
of our home and all of us. After he retired,
he continued going to school. Any new thing that came
along would stimulate him to take a class. He took
computer classes, automotive classes, home repair classes
and on and on. He had enrolled in school again and was
taking a theology course up until two or three weeks
before he passed away.
Ours was one of those yours, mine and ours families.
Both Sam and I had been married before and brought
children to this marriage. We had no intention of
having more children but we did. Together we had two
beautiful daughters. That gave us eight children all together.
Needless to say, we had a very interesting life.
There seemed to be at least five children in our house
at any given time. This didn’t bother Sam.
He loved all the children and was constantly teaching them
something and they seemed willing and eager to learn.
Three of our children spoke at his funeral and the
consensus was that he was responsible for the kind of
people they have become.
The main thing I can say about Sam is that he was
such a kind man. That word was used over and over again
in the notes I received from friends and family after he died.
He always had a smile and a kind word for everybody.
If he was upset, he kept it to himself.
He would say to me "why do you worry so much, it’s not worth it."
He would tease me and call me Calamity Jane because I was always
expecting the worst. He would only accept the best. No matter
how bad things were he would deal with it with dignity.
I know that he’s at peace now and that’s as it should be.
There will always be an empty place in my heart that can never
be filled until I see him again. I am eternally grateful
that God let him pass through my life if only for a little while.
To my darling Sam I say, sleep well.
SAMUEL MARTIN BRINKLEY
