Sam Walter Ellerbee

Sam Walter Ellerbee passed away on December 19, 2003, deep in the heart of his native state of Texas. For the past ten years he resided in the area of McAllen, Texas, enjoying his favorite pastimes of playing country music, dancing, reading and watching the many tales of the Old West; his favorite being Lonesome Dove. He was born in Anderson County, Texas on April 27, 1920, to William Walter and Melissa Jenkins Ellerbee. During his early years he farmed and worked for the Rock Island and Santa Fe Railroads. He married Lahoma Roberts in 1940 and had two sons, Wayne and Arney. in 1944, like the other young men of that era, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he served in the tank corp. His service time was cut short in 1945 after he developed a tropical skin disease that plagued him the rest of his life. Following his discharge he attended college in Weatherford, OK, majoring in mechanical engineering. In 1949, he went to work for the U.S. Post Office and ended up in Harrah, OK. Following an early retirement he became a home builder in a six county area of Oklahoma for 35 years. In early 1980, he went to work as City Manager of Harrah and was very instrumental in accomplishing a great deal towards the future growth of the town. In 1987, Sam set off with son, Arney, to seek gold along the Alaska coastline. While the gold was scarce, he filled the hours with his photography, recording their adventure. In the late 1980?s, he bought a fifth wheel and started the most enjoyable times of his life, traveling to many areas of interest where he made many friends, playing and singing at impromptu country jam sessions. Few people know of his love for the harmonica his first instrument. He could strap on the harmonica and leave his hands free to play his guitar when groups would gather under the Texas, New Mexico and Arizona star lit skies to sing their hearts out and recall their own adventures. He also learned to play the fiddle and spent hours with his keyboard. In the mid 90?s he married Lorrie Janowiak of Harrah and added an instant extended family of 2 sons, 4 daughters and 11 grandchildren. A five way bypass surgery on his heart slowed him down, but he came out of retirement to transform a historical old home in Cuba, Missouri, into a showplace for Lorrie?s daughter and husband, Catherine and Bill Lange. Two years later he returned to Missouri to construct a state of the art law office for the Langes. Sam is survived by his son Dewayne and wife Souan of Olympia, WA, grandchildren, Shaye, Christian, Shawn and Sean. Also son, Arney and wife Judy of Harrah, granddaughter Missy and husband Don Richardson of Piedmont and their children, Matthew, Megen and Mikala; another granddaughter, Cindy Ellerbee of Harrah and her two children, Jarod Huggins and Samantha Whitlock. He is also survived by his sister, Julia Ellerbee Buckingham of Shamrock, Texas and her sons Bob and Billy Buckingham of Shamrock, their wives and families; his brother, Buck Ellerbee, his wife and families of Hastings, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his brother Roy Patterson of Houston and survived by Roy?s wife, two children and grandchildren, all of Texas. Sam?s extended family includes, Bill and Catherine Lange and their children, Chip and Courtney of Cuba, Missouri; James and Sandy Janowiak, their children, Matthew, Jared, Carey and Joe of Sapulpa, OK; Rick and Cyndi Clark, and their daughter, Chrissy of Highlands Ranch, CO; Jerry and Sandra Janowiak, their children, Jeremy and Candice of Harrah, OK; Stan and Cheryl Tanner and son, Jason of Langhorne, PA; Mike and Connie Tanner and daughter, Cydney of Highlands Ranch, CO. Services will be held Saturday, December 27, 2003, at 2:00 pm at Asa Smith Memorial Chapel, Harrah, OK. Services are under the direction of Smith-Parks Funeral Service, Harrah, OK.