Gary L. Sams

Gary L. Sams
It is with deep sadness and great love that we announce the passing of Gary Lyn Sams,
78, of Everett, on May 18, 2026. He was surrounded by the love of his wife and children
and will be remembered for his love of life, baseball, travel, and, most importantly, his
family.
Gary was born on June 11, 1947, at Timmons Hospital, Bedford, PA, to Walter and
Florence (Diehl) Sams. As the son of a military family, he moved often throughout his
childhood, living in places including Maryland, New Jersey, Turkey, and Germany, where
he spent much of his formative years. He graduated from Frankfurt American High
School in 1965. After high school, he followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the
military, where he specialized in military intelligence. After serving on active duty, he
continued his military career in the reserves and retired with the rank of Master
Sergeant. Following his honorable discharge, he earned a bachelor’s degree in
Christian education from Lee College and later a degree in secondary education from
Shippensburg University. He went on to dedicate his life to leading people to the Lord as
a pastor and to shaping young minds as a German and English teacher at Southern
Fulton High School.
Those who knew Gary will remember him for his larger-than-life personality. He found
great joy in hunting, his train collection, and collecting and repairing cuckoo clocks. He
also enjoyed shuttling members of the Mennonite community, but among all his
hobbies, Fantasy Pirates Baseball Camp was his favorite. Gary never met a stranger
and was a man of deep faith. His faith was not just something he spoke about on
Sundays—it was something he lived out each day in the way he loved and cared for
others.
Gary is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patsy (Hall) Sams; his children, Travis
(Esmeralda), Amy (Tanner), Whitney (Aaron), and Courtney (Josh); his beloved
grandchildren, Brady, Sophia, Arianna, Bailee, and Bennett; and his sister, Sharon
(Sam) Bowers. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Darl.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Akers Funeral Home. Services will be
held on Saturday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Manns Choice Church of God. Family and
friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, May 22, from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m., and again on
Saturday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will follow with full military
honors by the Everett Area Honor Guard at St. Paul’s Cemetery, 278-323 St. Paul’s Cemetery Road,
Hopewell.  The service will be livestreamed via the Manns Choice Church of God Facebook page. In
lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Band of Heroes Outdoors.

Gary lived a full and faithful life, marked by strength, conviction, and a deep love for his
family. He leaves behind a lasting legacy and will be deeply missed.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.