Samuel Leroy Pilgreen

Retired teacher
Samuel Leroy Pilgreen, 68, a longtime resident of Alamogordo, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, from the peaceful atmosphere of his home.
Sam was born Nov. 7, 1940, in Alamogordo to Hubert and Virginia (Fenimore) Pilgreen. He loved any lake where he could cast his creation, "ugly bug," and always catch his limit of trout. He was on intimate terms with the Sacramento Mountains, particularly Alamo Canyon, West Side Road, the Grapevine and Holder Ridge.
Sam married Karen Holder in Alamogordo on June 23, 1961, and they had four children. He was a talented artist, best known for watercolors of old buildings and oils of gigantic New Mexico skies.
A 1959 graduate of Alamogordo High School and a 1964 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, Sam taught English and art at Alamogordo High School, Chaparral Junior High School and Ruidoso High School. He also owned Buck's Guns in Alamogordo and Ruidoso, where he could promote his love of guns, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Karen Pilgreen, of the family home; three sons, Todd Pilgreen and his wife, Fran, of Shanghai, China, Dan Pilgreen and his companion, Lainie Segal-Knapp, of Briarcliff, N.Y., and Scott Pilgreen and his wife, Cara, of Albuquerque; a daughter, Wendi Girven, and her husband, Ben, of Albuquerque; nine grandchildren, Sara Pilgreen, of Santa Barbara, Calif., Lauren Pilgreen, of Shanghai, China, Cale, Connor and Caeden Pilgreen, of Albuquerque, Dade, Leia and Samuel Cooper Girven, of Albuquerque, and Dana Knapp, of Briarcliff; and two sisters, Merry Dell Wade and her husband, Carl, and Ginnie Jackson, all of Alamogordo.
Sam was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother James Pilgreen.
A memorial service will be conducted Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Rachuig of Elephant Butte officiating.
Honorary pallbearers will include Todd Pilgreen, Dan Pilgreen, Scott Pilgreen, Wendi Girven, Larry Holder, Carl Wade, D.J. Harshey, Charles McMath, Tom Overstreet, Jim Ahrens, Glenn Riggins, Garland Peek, Bruce Bambrook and Clark "Sparky" Henderson.
Private interment will be in Monte Vista Cemetery.
Should friends desire, the family suggests donations to the Ethan Jackson Memorial Party Fund at Otero Oncology, 2559 Medical Drive, Suite G, Alamogordo, NM 88310.
Services are under the direction of Hamilton-O'Dell Funeral Home.
To send condolences to the family, please visit

www.hamiltonodell.com