Maurice Albert “Al” Samson Jr., 68, of Colony died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, at his home.
He was born Feb. 14, 1942, in St. Albans, Vt., to Maurice Albert and Lucille (Benoit) Samson Sr. He grew up in St. Albans where he graduated from Holy Angels Catholic High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Kansas.
On Aug. 22, 1964, he married Patricia Ann Leeman. They made their home in Vermont, Topeka and Scranton. They had two sons before they divorced.
On Feb. 1, 1991, he married Rose M. Beckmon in Topeka. They have made their home in Topeka, Iola and Colony.
He worked as a machinist in the Topeka area, for Frito-Lay and for the City of Iola before he retired. He was always working on some kind of vehicle and was a builder and repairer of all things. He liked going to auctions. He attended Colony Christian Church.
He is survived by his wife of the home; five children, Robert Samson and his wife, Dawna, and Gary Samson, Topeka, James Burcham, Iola, Tom Burcham, Topeka, and Susan Burcham, Broken Arrow, Okla.; his mother-in-law, Ethel Beckmon, Iola; three brothers, Paul and George, St. Albans, and Arthur, Largo, Fla.; three sisters, Noella Ashline and Katherine Ashline, Burlington, Vt., and Betty Saveall, Swanton, Vt.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel in Iola.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. Mark McCoy will officiate. Burial will be in Colony Cemetery.
Memorials to St. Luke’s Hospice may be left at the funeral home. Online condolences for the family may be left at iolafuneral.com.
‘Al’ Samson Jr.
