SAMUEL BRYSON

BRYSON Samuel Cloyd Bryson 1922 – 2011 On the evening of Monday, July 25, 2011, one of the world's great self-made men passed peacefully from this life. Samuel Cloyd Bryson (Sam) was a first-rate horse wrangler, sailor, civil servant, fruit farmer, homebuilder, church worker, traveler, electronic whiz, patriot, friend, husband, grandfather and father. He will be dearly missed. Sam was born in the mining town of Storrs, Utah, on August 30, 1922, to Samuel Conrey Bryson and Clara Elizabeth Davis Bryson. He was the youngest of 7 children, joining the family after Thora, Conrey, Hyrum Ivan, Clarice Afton, Thomas Elwood and LoRen. All of his brothers and sisters have preceded him in death. Sam never forgot the vital lessons of hard work he learned during the Great Depression. In 1940, he made a decision he said, "changed him from a delinquent kid into a man": he enlisted in the Navy. The following year, Sam was on duty with Patrol Squadron 24 at Ford Island Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, a day that lives in the hearts and minds of the Greatest Generation of Americans. He remained on active duty until 1946 and served in the Navy Reserve through 1954. After his Naval service, Sam had a fulfilling career in the Civil Service at Hill Air Force Base in Utah (1947-1954) and White Sands Missile Range (1954-1972). Sam was fortunate to have found love twice in his life. His sweetheart, Mary Elvertis Eden, waited patiently for him when he joined the Navy, and they were married on October 31, 1943. Their union was later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Utah Temple. They were blessed with 4 children: Larry, Susan, Leslie and Marilynn. Larry preceded his father in death. After 29 years of marriage, Mary died after a long battle with cancer. Sam then met and married Anna Darlene Klepper on January 30, 1973, in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple. That union also brought him another daughter, Katherine. Sam and Darlene's adventures took them from El Paso to Paonia, CO to Wales to Utah and finally to their beloved Oregon Coast where Darlene passed away suddenly last year. Sam is also the proud grandfather to Jenni, Jay, Jerri, Joy, Benton, Ranee, Chris, Lee, Travis, Micah, Brandt and Taylor; great-grandfather to 20 and great-great-grandfather to 2. His grandson, Lee Macias, preceded him in death. In his own words, Sam often said he "had a good run of it." We who love him are grateful he is now free from the pains and limitations of his physical body. We keep him close always in our hearts. Please join us to celebrate He also gained a daughter at that time, Katherine. This life well-lived on Friday, July 29, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Immediately following, come gather to share memories of Sam at the LDS Church, 5510 Hondo Pass Dr. Services under the direction of Hillcrest Funeral Home. 1060 Carolina Dr. 598-3332.