Howard Samsel

Howard Swinehart Samsel

Brandon

Howard Swinehart Samsel, died Monday, January 18, 2016, at St. Catherine's Siena II after a brief illness. He lived in Brandon, MS at the reservoir. He was born September 30, 1926 in Seattle, Washington, the son of Olivia Swinehart and Howard Zener Samsel. His maternal grandparents were Nancy Plummer and George Brougher Swinehart who was the first United States Commissioner to Alaska and was instrumental in obtaining statehood for Alaska. His paterrnal grandparents were Zula Zener and George Shook Samsel who with J. C. Penny founded the Golden Rule Store (now J.C. Penny Company) in Idaho Falls. Howard graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology. He received the Master of Arts in Geology in January 1950 from UCLA. He began a 37 year career with Unocal (now Chevron) in Bakersfield, California moving to Oklahoma City and Tulsa, New Orleans and then to Jackson, Mississippi. Howard was the Exploration Manager in the Jackson Office. Under his leadership, the Jackson Office had numerous discoveries, including Chinchula Field in Alabama. Howard was a member of First Baptist Church Chapel Sunday school class, a lifetime member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist for over 50 years, member of the Geophysical Society and Landman's Asociation. Walter Scott Coffee Club, Mississippi Museum of Art Rembrandt Society and Friends of the IBC. He and his wife participated in the IBC every four years, hosting the Jurors from South Korea and twice from Finland and dance instructor from San Francisco. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Fraternity and remained an active alumni. Lifetime member of the University of Washington and UCLA Alumni Associations. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Witt Samsel. Howard is survived by his wife of 35 years, Midge Scroggins Samsel; son, Mark Witt Samsel; daughters, Stacy Swain Ramsey and Stephanie Jean Hartley, eleven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Howard always enjoyed playing bridge and the stock market and traveling. He had traveled all over the World visiting over 50 countries and logged over 50 cruises. Even though he was from the Pacific Northwest, he loved the South and loved the songs "Dixie" and "Amazing Grace". He made an anatomical gift to the Univ. of Miss. Medical Center and requested no memorial service. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Carols By Candlelight, 431 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39201 or Gideons International, Brandon Gideons, P.O. Box 324, Brandon, MS. 39043 or the charity of your choice. "To see a world in a grain of sand, a heaven in a wildflower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, an eternity in an hour."