Nella Mae Sampson

Nella Mae Sampson, also known as "Mom, Grandma, Momo, Mamo, Elmo, or just Mo", was born in Tahona, Oklahoma on October 27, 1936, to parents Robert James Orrison and Nora Ann Orrison (Brewer). She was the sixth out of eight children. Nella's long-awaited journey to be with Jesus was completed on August 1, 2025, in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

She was born in Oklahoma, but at nine months old her mom gathered her and several of her siblings on a greyhound bus to West Virginia. Her dad was a coal miner, so he moved wherever he could find work. He had gone ahead to start work and find a place to live.

Nella moved back to Oklahoma at the beginning of 7th grade where she attended school in Panama, Oklahoma. This is where she first met Herschel Sampson. The summer after 7th grade, she went to Kincaid, Illinois to visit her oldest sister. By the time she needed to come back to Oklahoma, nobody had the extra funds to get her there. So, she attended and graduated 8th grade at Kincaid School.

During the year while she was Illinois, her parents had moved back to West Virginia. The summer after 8th grade, she went by train to West Virginia. She then spent the next three years going to Welch High School. After her junior year, she asked her dad to go back to Kincaid, Illinois so she could graduate High School with her classmates from 8th grade.

In 1954, Nella graduated from Kincaid High School. During one of her visits back to Oklahoma, she reconnected with Herschel Sampson. The two of them were married on December 3, 1955, in Panama, Oklahoma. They had two children, Beverly Jean and Michael Dean. In June of 1966 they moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

She worked for Harmony-Woodriff as an offset machine operator for 34 years before retiring in 2004. She set up and printed many memorial folders, just like the one made for you today.

Her home church was the Beams of Light Church in which she had attended since 1966. She has been a faithful servant of God for many years. In a folder, she wrote down that she wanted to thank her church family for always being there for her. She especially wanted to thank Mike and Lori Harris for being a true friend, she loves you so much.

First and above all, Nella loved her Lord and Savior. Just below that, she loved her family unconditionally, spending time with them and watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren play sports.

She enjoyed spending time with her church family, reading, OU football and softball, baseball and softball world series, and watching the Olympics. She also tried to never miss a Superbowl or March Madness college basketball tournament.

Nella said her sweetest memories are when she looked at the faces of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren right after they were born; what a blessing. Her family meant everything to her, and she was everything to us.

She is preceded in death by her father, mother, husband Herschel of 57 years, five brothers and their spouses, and two sisters and their spouses.

Nella is survived by daughter Beverly Woolery and husband Joe, son Michael Sampson and wife Teri, grandchildren Amy Enlow, Darrell and Kendra Smith, and Blaine Sampson, great grandchildren Alec and Kamryn Bina, Alexa and Ethan Martin, Austin Bina, Skylar Smith, Kammie Smith, and Daxton Smith, and many nieces and nephews.

The service will have a live stream. You may watch it live by pasting the following link into your browser.

https://www.youtube.com/live/XASCrQuF0Qk?si=VlJfEsAvgrsDhXv_

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