Funeral Service for Samuel Eugene Cecil will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Tishomingo, OK with Reverend Marsha Purtell to officiate.

Samuel E. Cecil passed away on January 18, 2019 at age 88 in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

He was born to Russell P. Cecil, Sr., and Orca Bean on September 12, 1930 in Hominy, Oklahoma. In 1934 his father married Madge M. Cecil, whom Sam and his children considered their mom and grandmother. Sam had a varied career, anchored by his wife, Peggy, whom he met in Hominy, Oklahoma at his parents’ store, Madge’s Gift Shop. They were married in Hominy on November 22, 1952 and celebrated 66 years together last fall. Sam graduated from Hominy High School where he was a star football player. He attended Northern Oklahoma College, Tonkawa, OK.

He served in the United States Army and the Army National Guard from 1947-1951.

He worked for several years in the oil field industry, living in several Oklahoma towns including Shidler and Pauls Valley. In 1961, he and Peggy moved to Dallas, Texas, and Sam enrolled in the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science. Upon graduating in 1963, he and Peggy moved to Tishomingo and remained there for 54 years. He was a licensed funeral director for ten years. He was employed by Chapman (now Clarks) Funeral Home during that decade. He then travelled Oklahoma and Texas for 24 years as a sales representative for The Champion Company, selling mortuary supplies. He retired from travelling and at age 65 began his own woodworking business, later expanded to include engraving. He became known far and wide as Laser-Man Sam. He was still engraving nametags for local businesses in early December of last year. His woodcraft was remarkable and handsome. He was making turned wooden candleholders and other decorative items for family and friends throughout 2018. He thought one key to a long life was to never stop working, or to have a hobby you loved. Sam served two terms as a Tishomingo City Council representative. He and Peggy were active members of the First United Methodist Church, Tishomingo. After their daughters left home, he and Peggy loved to travel. They took many bus tours to the northern part of the country, a cruise to Alaska, and trips with friends to horse races in Arkansas and New Mexico. They also visited North Carolina, Alabama and northern California to visit Debra and Jerry and family. Their last big trip was to the Grand Canyon in October 2010.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Madge Cecil, his birth mother, Orca Bean, and a brother, Russell Paul Cecil, Jr.

Sam is survived by his wife, Peggy, of the home, and by their daughters and spouses, Debra and Jeridan Strong, Denton, TX, and Donna and David Smith, New Boston, TX. Family members include grandchildren Dan and Lindsay Strong, Rachael Strong, Samuel and Kiersten Strong, Holly and Micheal Connelly. Great grandchildren are Jeridan and Nolan Strong, and River Santos. He is also survived by his sister, Janet C. Jones, Conway, AR. Many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews, as well as extended family and friends, celebrate his life.