What can I say about Sam? Sam was such a good guy; not holy mind you...certainly far from a devout Catholic. Although Sam was baptised, raised and confirmed Catholic, he quickly fell for the lies of secular society once he was away from home.
Sam was born February 25, 1941; he was 10 years older than my husband Kevin. He was such a tease to his younger brother and when he was 16 years old he entered the Navy in 1957 where he remained for 20 years. Sam was a 1st class petty officer, he served on nuclear subs where he was in charge of the mess hall. He married his first wife Dee in 1967 and they had a daughter Monica. Unfortunately this marriage did not last and he married his second wife Shelby shortly before leaving the Navy. Sam's second marriage suffered a similar fate and he found himself a single father to 2 boys Bryan and Adam while Shelby was a single mother to his second daughter Aimee.
After leaving the Navy Sam had a few jobs in the food industry before hiring on at Carrier Corporation. Finally he left Carrier to care for his aging and ill parents. Dorothy my mother-in-law passed away in May of 2001 and Mervin my father-in-law passed away that same year in December. Sam was there for them both through thick and thin.
Sam was very proud of his Navy service. Sam loved to bowl and golf, he loved to fish and camp and he loved his kids and grandkids. He loved his brother and he loved me, he loved his dogs and he especially loved his kids and grandkids and.....he loved his friends.
Sam got pnuemonia this past December. He was hospitalized with pulmonary embolism and on January 15 he was diagnosed with end stage lung cancer. I called my priest Father Glenn right away, I knew he did not have much time...he hadn't been to Mass in probably 35 years or more. He was positive, he was going to do chemo to gain a few extra months...but he was too weak. The cancer devastated his body. Father came right away, he saw him several times. Sam finally made a good confession, recieved absolution and the sacrament of the sick.
The last 4 days were very sad, each day he declined and became more weak than the day before. Kevin and I were with him most of the time those last 4 days, Father came to see him and blessed him. He turned to me and said, "you know I've anointed him and given him absolution, he's good to go," indicating to me he was in a state of grace and ready to meet Jesus.
Sam is one of those people Kevin and I have been holding up in daily prayer for years. We were so worried he would die in a state of mortal sin....and God is so good and merciful, he took this horrible disease of cancer and turned it into the situation that would lead Sam to reversion.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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Sam's Song
I don't particularly like the video portion of this youtube music video, but this was Sam's Song....you'd have to know his special type of humor to understand, but it fits...take my word for it.
Sam was born February 25, 1941; he was 10 years older than my husband Kevin. He was such a tease to his younger brother and when he was 16 years old he entered the Navy in 1957 where he remained for 20 years. Sam was a 1st class petty officer, he served on nuclear subs where he was in charge of the mess hall. He married his first wife Dee in 1967 and they had a daughter Monica. Unfortunately this marriage did not last and he married his second wife Shelby shortly before leaving the Navy. Sam's second marriage suffered a similar fate and he found himself a single father to 2 boys Bryan and Adam while Shelby was a single mother to his second daughter Aimee.
After leaving the Navy Sam had a few jobs in the food industry before hiring on at Carrier Corporation. Finally he left Carrier to care for his aging and ill parents. Dorothy my mother-in-law passed away in May of 2001 and Mervin my father-in-law passed away that same year in December. Sam was there for them both through thick and thin.
Sam was very proud of his Navy service. Sam loved to bowl and golf, he loved to fish and camp and he loved his kids and grandkids. He loved his brother and he loved me, he loved his dogs and he especially loved his kids and grandkids and.....he loved his friends.
Sam got pnuemonia this past December. He was hospitalized with pulmonary embolism and on January 15 he was diagnosed with end stage lung cancer. I called my priest Father Glenn right away, I knew he did not have much time...he hadn't been to Mass in probably 35 years or more. He was positive, he was going to do chemo to gain a few extra months...but he was too weak. The cancer devastated his body. Father came right away, he saw him several times. Sam finally made a good confession, recieved absolution and the sacrament of the sick.
The last 4 days were very sad, each day he declined and became more weak than the day before. Kevin and I were with him most of the time those last 4 days, Father came to see him and blessed him. He turned to me and said, "you know I've anointed him and given him absolution, he's good to go," indicating to me he was in a state of grace and ready to meet Jesus.
Sam is one of those people Kevin and I have been holding up in daily prayer for years. We were so worried he would die in a state of mortal sin....and God is so good and merciful, he took this horrible disease of cancer and turned it into the situation that would lead Sam to reversion.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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Mervin S. "Sam" Arthur Jr. 68, Avon, passed away on Feb. 8, 2010. He was born on Feb. 25, 1941 in Indianapolis to the Late Mervin S. Sr. and Dorothy Carlsen Arthur. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service after retirement he worked for Carrier Corp. and Western Bowl. Calling hours will be Thursday Feb. 11, 2010 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Hall-Baker Funeral Home Plainfield. Funeral services will be on Friday Feb. 12, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home with Father Glenn O' Conner officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery Plainfield. Survivors include his children, Monica Arthur, Aimee Arthur, Bryan Arthur, and Adam Arthur; brother, Kevin Arthur; 4 grandchildren. Online condolences cam be made to the Arthur family at: bakerfuneralservice.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Sam's Song
I don't particularly like the video portion of this youtube music video, but this was Sam's Song....you'd have to know his special type of humor to understand, but it fits...take my word for it.
2 comments:
May the Lord grant him eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God,rest in peace.
A sad but joyous story. We were made for heaven and I'm so happy Sam is going there. Now you have a brother there. I know it's hard to lose someone close. My dad passed away last September.
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