Samantha Ann Ryther

Samantha Ann Lester Ryther, known affectionately as Sam to her friends and family, left us on April 5, 2024. Born on July 3, 1989, in Bakersfield, California, Sam filled her 34 years with laughter, love, and a dash of mischief, right back in the town where her story began.
Sam was the spirited daughter of Sheree Lynn Skelly and Jeffery Dean Lester, a sister who shared countless jokes with Amber Lynn Lopez and her husband Hebert Lopez and brother Jeffery Joshua Lester. She was a proud and loving mother to her son, Austin Lee Lester, who inherited her playful wit and who is "the best thing I ever did " Sam is also survived by her twin nephews, Noah and Leo Lopez, who she wanted to be great aunt to; her "Dee" (grandmother) Patricia Ann Yates who nurtured her love of books and of her Native heritage; and granddad Billie Ray Yates who had a hand in shaping her adventurous spirit, two uncles, Joe Yates and Lee Fipps. Sam is preceded in death by her Grandma, Anna Jenice Fipps, and Papa, Bob Fipps.
After graduating from Stockdale High School in 2007, Sam dabbled in General Education at Bakersfield and Taft Colleges, but her true calling was in the culinary arts. She was on the cusp of graduating from Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and was ready to spice up the world with her dream of creating a fusion-style food truck and catering company. Her recipes were like her sense of humor-unexpected and delightful. Sam spent many hours watching various cooking shows and writing down recipes that she thought would be interesting and making little tweaks here and there, some of which definitely did not work out so well. It was a true gift watching Sam who struggled making macaroni and cheese ("the good kind with the sauce") to making precise cuts and dices and working with ingredients that she had to google since she had no idea what they were.
Sam's love for animals knew no bounds. She had a special relationship with her horse, Magic, and they shared a bond that would make even the greatest of cowboys envious; Sam was devastated when Magic passed away. Ruger, who was Magic's companion was so loyal to Sam that he practically required a notarized letter from her to let others pet him assuming that anyone other than Sam could catch him. And let's not forget Whiskey Girl, Sam's dog, whose smile was the only therapy Sam needed to cheer her up when life got too heavy.
An avid reader since childhood, Sam's love for words blossomed into a garden of poems, stories, and songs. Though not yet published, she and her mom were on a mission to share her lyrical genius with the world. Sam had numerous notebooks filled with her words, and she would write whenever and wherever she was inspired.
On the sports field, Sam was a force to be reckoned with. She may have been petite, but her competitive spirit was larger than life. Whether it was softball, volleyball, or kickball, Sam played with the heart of a lioness, proving that size is no match for determination. Sam was always up for adventure; one specific adventure is when she flew out to Oklahoma to visit her Granddad and was riding her mom's childhood three-wheeler that she preceded to ride into a tree because she refused to slow down. Having braces on her teeth at the time, the wire broke and Sam and her granddad's solution was to go down the street to granddad's friend, a veterinarian, who cut the wire and removed it. When Sam flew home the next day and was picked up at the airport, she was wearing her hair down over her face and wearing a ball cap to hide the bruising and swelling and her face and the wire removed from her braces. Sam and her granddad justified this incident with the argument that she was seen by a doctor the veterinarian!
From the moment she picked up the flute in 5th grade, music flowed through Sam's veins. Despite her initial hesitation, she graced the Stockdale High School marching band with her presence for four years, creating a symphony of memories that echoed through her happiest moments. She loved competing in band competitions and the elaborate field shows that the band performed.
Sam had a great love of The Wizard of Oz from the time she was a toddler until she was taken from us; Sam and her sister Amber wore out many gingham dresses and red ruby sparkling shoes, carrying baskets with Toto skipping along the "yellow brick road."
Described as adventurous, analytical, and spirited, Sam lived her life like a well-crafted joke-full of surprises and leaving everyone wanting more. Her laughter was a melody that resonated in the hearts of all who knew her, and her analytical mind ensured that even her humor was served with a side of wisdom.
As we bid farewell to Samantha Ann Lester Ryther, we remember a woman who lived life like it was a softball game-always ready to steal the next base, laughing all the way. Sam, your recipe for life was one of a kind, and we will miss the flavor you brought to our days. Here's to the woman who could make a cat laugh and a horse cry-a true legend in her own right. Heaven just got a whole lot brighter.
The circle of life never stops spinning
The clock on the wall never stops ticking
Time is always moving on
So give them something to strive for
Even after you're gone,
They'll remember
And a part of you gets to live forever.
Samantha Ann Lester Ryther
October 18, 2023
Celebration of Life details will be forthcoming