Samuel Mutt Jr.

Samuel Mutt Jr.

Samuel Mutt Jr. left this world on August 8, 2005, after a valiant fight with lung cancer spanning a period of a little under two years. He finished the fight on his terms, peacefully at home, with his loved ones with him.
He came into the world on September 26, 1924, in Gas City, Indiana, by his mother, Grace Elizabeth Adkins Mutt, and his father, Samuel Mutt, an Albanian immigrant and a glass blower by trade.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ollie Roscoe Mutt, James Allen Mutt, and Harold (Curley) Diko; and his sister, Marjorie Moroz.
He has two surviving sisters, Bessie Newman, and Sarah Louise Landseadel.
He married Sheilah Claire on June 17, 1949, and together they raised five children, Sylvia Anne Hickman (husband, Gary), James Edward Mutt (wife, Leslie), Barbara Jean Cunningham, the late Christopher Lee Mutt, who died Memorial Day, 1958, and Samuel Allen Mutt (wife, Jean). They lived and loved together for 50 wonderful years up to January 13, 2000, when Sheilah joined their son, Christopher, after passing peacefully in her sleep.
They had six grandchildren, Gary Eugene Hickman, Gerilyn Allen, Christina Louise Hickman Blank, Eric Jay Cunningham, the late Brian Samuel Mutt, and Jennifer Marie Mutt.
Also left were six great-grandchildren, Caleb James Hickman, Jamie Elizabeth Turpin, Brandon Lee Hickman, Haley Elyse Hickman, Alexander Jay Cunningham, and Jenna Leigh Hickman, along with a host of cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.
Samuel was in the Marine Corps for nearly 30 years. He joined at the age of 18, on December 15, 1942, and served until sometime in the early 70's, when he went into the Reserves. He then worked for the Postal Service in Seattle for 16 years. He went through major conflicts, two in World War II, Korea and two tours in Vietnam. He earned top honors in the Marine Corps and the respect of all who came in contact with him. He was an extremely intelligent man with a great sense of family, a thirst for knowledge, and a love of travel that took him all over the world. He spoke several languages and instilled a love of family and a strong sense of responsibility in all of his children.
His strong views on family took him to his father's native land, in Albania, along with his sister, Sarah, and her husband, Forrest. There they met their cousins, who were actually staying in the home where his father was born. From this visit stemmed the immigration and eventual citizenship of his first cousin, Besnik Diko, his wife, Engjellsha, and their daughters, Xheni and Sindi. This was made possible because of a promise Samuel made to his father to provide whatever aide he could to his father's family in Albania.
Samuel also illustrated the importance of family many times, traveling great distances to aide his family in Indiana, regardless of where he was stationed at the time in the U.S.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday August 13, 2005, at Purdy & Kerr with Dawson Funeral Home, with a memorial service following at 2 p.m., at the New Hope Fellowship, 1012 W. Main Street, Monroe, Washington, for friends and family. He will be cremated and a private ceremony at a later date will take place for family and close friends when he is laid to rest, united again, with his beloved wife, Sheilah.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the East County Senior Center of Monroe, or the New Hope Fellowship.