Samuel James Priest

Samuel James Priest, beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, grandson, and friend died on Saturday, February 10, at the age of 38. He is survived by his parents, Timothy and Lynne Priest, his sister Elizabeth Keighley (Adam), his nieces and nephew Pippa, Esme, and Archer Keighley, his grandfather Dr. James Hofmann, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Sam spent the first five years of his life in India. He didn't remember much of those years, except being bitten by a goat at some point. He was adopted at age five and took to his new family immediately. His elementary school teachers would recall calling him Sam "Who Mommy Dat?" Priest because he was so obsessed with mothers, especially his own.
As a child, Sam would ride his bike to Bowman Field to watch the planes take off. This would inspire his lifelong passion for aviation. He attended Ballard High School (class of 2005) and he sang in the choir for four years. He went on to study Aviation Administration at Eastern Kentucky University (where he won the Young Alumni Award in 2022.) He then earned his Master's degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He worked in airports in Louisville and Seattle, and was currently working in airside operations at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, where he had previously been a construction coordinator. He held his private pilot's license and was fully accredited with the American Associates of Airport Executives.
Sam was what anyone who ever met him would describe as a "great guy." He laughed at every single joke. He was the kid in class who got in trouble for playing too much. Sam loved learning about new cultures and made friends everywhere he went. He traveled extensively and spoke fluent Spanish. Sam was an Eagle Scout with a love for the outdoors. He loved to hike, kayak, bike, and camp. If you ever took a trip with Sam, you had a full itinerary each day of meticulously planned activities catered to your interests. There was never a dull moment.
Ultimately, Sam would describe his existence as "never really feeling like he belonged," but he belonged everywhere. He was a favorite among the cousin clan, a hardworking and essential specialist in the busiest airport in the world, a rockstar uncle, and a cherished friend. We will never be the same, Sam, and it's hard to imagine what our lives will be like without you. You are loved beyond measure.
Visitation will be Monday, Feb 19 4pm-7pm at Pearson's, 149 Breckenridge Lane, Louisville, KY 40207. Sam's funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church, 2119 Payne Street, Louisville, KY 40206 at 10am, Tuesday, Feb 20.
Our family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
Arrangements under the direction of Pearson's, "Where Louisville Goes to Remember."