Samuel Bayless Obituary Samuel Marion Bayless, born 11/16/20 in Colorado Springs, passed away peacefully at age 96 on 7/5/17. He was a devoted husband, father and Christian friend to many. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Rachel, to whom he was married for 59 years, his son Daniel Bayless and grandson Don Bayless. He is also preceded by his first wife, Wilma, She was the mother of Sam's oldest daughter Mary. She and a second child died in childbirth. He is survived by his daughters Mary Croskrey, Carla Mahan, Carol Humphrey and Laura Lewis and his son Paul Bayless, 12 grand children and 11 great grand children. Sam was a veteran of World War II in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in New Guinea as a radar operator. He received 3 bronze star medals. He had the privilege of going on the Honor Flight to Washington DC in 2011. He went to the Colorado School of Mines and was a civil engineer working for the Bureau of Reclamation. He designed dams and water projects. Following his retirement from the government, he dabbled in roofing, piano tuning, and preparing taxes. Active in the United Methodist Church and Lions Club Sam had a giving heart and a desire to love everyone he met. He was involved in many other philanthropic activities throughout his life. He was very creative. He loved music and taught himself to play the harp and piano. He often played the harp for church and for the Raider Ranch Assisted Living. He sang in the choir and loved all kinds of music. He loved Handel's Messiah and sang it many times with various choral groups. He did leatherwork, woodwork and painted. He once took an electronics course and even built a television. He was a true Renaissance man. He was one of the first residents of Raider Ranch and was active there until the end of his life, playing games daily and playing the harp for the noon meal on Wednesdays in assisted living. He made it his mission to make everyone feel welcome. He and Rachel were very active in Marriage Enrichment community and led many weekends. They kept in touch with many of the couples involved in the weekends throughout the years. He loved the outdoors, swimming, camping, boating, hiking. He loved to tell stories about his youth in Colorado Springs when he would hike up the rails on Pike's Peak, some true stories and some campfire tales. He was a part of Good Sam's and camped around the country in a RV. He also loved peanut butter on all his sandwiches and often took a jar of peanut butter to restaurants for his sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs, amazing the wait staff. Memorial services will be held at St. John's United Methodist Church on 22 July at 2:00 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Salvation Army. Services

Memorial Service Saturday July 22, 2017 2:00 PM St. John's United Methodist Church 1501 University Ave Lubbock, TX 79401