Samuel "Sam" Leroy Trussell

Sam was born December 9, 1936, in David City, Nebraska, to Lester and Lois Blakely Trussell.

Sam Attended the University of Nebraska where he did his undergraduate work and completed his master degree. He spent the majority of his career advocating for the elderly first by operating a national string of nursing homes and then by developing and managing assisted living facilities in Texas, Wyoming and Arizona. He was passionate about senior care and the management and operation of his facilities reflected that.

Sam also had a passion for vehicles. He was a private pilot, boat captain, motorcycle daredevil and car aficionado. His most prized possessions were his Beechcraft T-34, his Harley Davidson Springer Softail and interestingly, his Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup. He could frequently be found polishing and loving on his “toys”.

Sam loved to travel. He would regularly take his family on vacations to wonderful destinations like Park City, UT, for skiing, Europe for “business” and many other exciting destinations. Spending time on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico to riding horses on his ranch near Johnson City, TX, and pack trips in the Rocky Mountains. Adventures were never far away. There was not a single trip that did not produce an amazing story like the time he rolled his International Scout down a mountainside in the snow or when he tried to tackle a car in the Exxon parking lot in Durango where his knee was injured and he actually had to be hospitalized.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Lois Trussell.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Trussell, his children, Steve Trussell and his wife, Shannon Trussell, Courtney Trussell, Matthew Trussell and his partner, Chloe Pierce, his step daughter, Ashley Asher and her husband, Kyle Asher. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Lauren, Sophie, Hayden, Brady, and Ashley's daughter, Alex. Additionally, he is survived by his sister, Carole Scott and her husband Gene Scott and his sister Lynne Linz, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins who were all loved by Sam.

Sam lived a very active and full life. The grass never grew under his feet. He will be missed.