BARBARA JEAN SAMPLE

After a long and wonderful life of faith, family, friends and the Clovis cattle ranching community, on Wednesday, January 14, 2015, Barbara Jean "Bobbie" Sample, age 88, passed away peacefully at the home ranch her husband had built for her over 60 years ago. Bobbie was born on March 11, 1926, in Fresno, CA and was the only child of John and Velma Calvert, who both passed in 1956. Bobbie had graduated from Fresno High School in 1944, and married Bonner "Bon" A. Sample in 1951. Together Bon and Bobbie raised three children out at the Sample home ranch, where they spent much time with their extended family, including Tommy Sample, and Jane and Jay Creager, and their children, all who lived on nearby ranches. Together the families enjoyed many cattle drives, picnics at Dry Creek, summers at Long Meadow, and vacations in Santa Cruz, CA. Bobbie was a glamorous city girl who changed the way we all thought about ranch life. Bobbie created a beautiful home for the family with one of the largest and most inviting family rooms you have ever seen. She usually had a fire going in the massive brick fireplace and the large windows provided a spectacular view of her country magazine worthy yard with tall trees, white wooden fencing, and terracotta pots brimming with flowers, all with green pastures and the family cattle as the majestic back drop. She shared her designing skills and love for gardening with everyone when she opened The Clay Pot and then for so many years volunteering for Holiday Boutique, Junior League, and The Garden Club. She also shared her smile with everyone and was probably most known for her ability to make and keep friends. She so loved her longtime friends and their families, but also enjoyed each new friend she made at every store and Starbucks she visited. Everyone from every walk of life was a potential friend. She was a great cook and hosted the best holidays, showers, and parties. The get togethers were endlessly welcoming. Some of the family's best memories include the many multi-generational vacations. The Sample clan is rooted in family and fun, but primarily we are rooted in our faith. In their later years, Bobbie and Bon attended The Well Community Church, where Bobbie was baptized at age 84. After a joyous and purposeful life, she is now with her Lord. She leaves a legacy of love, friendship and wonderful family traditions, all of which will be passed on for many generations. Always thinking of others, Bobbie kept a special savings account to be used after her passing for the next extended family vacation in San Francisco, CA. We are to teach the great-grandchildren how to celebrate friends and family Bobbie style. Teaching her ways will be easy because her wonderful traits are already woven into the fabric of this family. Bobbie is survived by her husband, Bonner Sample, who is surrounded by family and will remain at the home ranch and carry on her traditions. She is also survived by her children, Sara Ganyo and her husband Robert, Brooke Delerio and her husband Randy, and Scott Sample and his wife Rene'; grandchildren, Brian Ganyo and his wife Erica, Tyler Ganyo and his wife Donna, Jenny McDermott and her husband Ryan, Brianne Freeman and her husband Aaron, Blaire Mathias and her husband Robbie, Michael Lometti, Scotty Sample, Shay Yarborough and her husband Billy; and 13 great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored. Bobbie was a loving and selfless woman who did not want a public funeral, nor her picture in the obituary, which is too bad because she was movie star beautiful. But she did not mention the length of the obituary, so we hope you enjoyed reading about her. We enjoyed loving her.