Sam L. Ousley, 68, of Oakdale passed away Thursday, Aug. 21 at Memorial Hospital from complications due to necrotizing pancreatitis.
He was born in Odessa, Texas on Sept. 7, 1939 to L.H. & Ruth Ousley. He moved many times in his youth and young adulthood, finally settling in Oakdale during the early 1960s.
He married his childhood nemesis, Billie Seawright in 1961. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and worked at the Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant. He attended Modesto Junior College, Stanislaus State University, and Sacramento State University. He taught at Oakdale High School and retired from the Manteca Unified School District after 30 years, the majority of that as the Library Media teacher. He was respected as a Librarian, and just about anyone that met him was his friend. Books were the 'other lady' in his life. He loved to read, his pets, traveling, and photography - Hawaii and the Southwest were his favorite subjects - and he never stopped learning.
He was a member of the Escalon Church of Christ and served as an elder for many years. His happy spirit will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Billie; daughter Renee and son-in-law Jeff Swank of Oakdale; son Joe and daughter-in-law Carolina Ousley of Orlando, Florida; his dog, Dolly of Oakdale; exchange student daughter Dorthe Brandt and family, of Berlin, Germany; sister Betty and brother-in-law John Wyatt of Vancouver, Washington; two nephews, one niece, five great nieces, one great nephew and one grand dog. He is also survived by numerous friends.
A celebration of life will be held at the Oakdale Church of Christ, 620 West F St., on Saturday Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at The Lunch Pail on Bangs Avenue, in Modesto, his favorite hangout.
The family requests any person attending to be in their finest Hawaiian attire.
Remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Central Asia Institute (Pennies for Peace), Jewel Gardiner Memorial Scholarship (CSLA), or Dogs for the Deaf.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Aug. 27, 2008
He was born in Odessa, Texas on Sept. 7, 1939 to L.H. & Ruth Ousley. He moved many times in his youth and young adulthood, finally settling in Oakdale during the early 1960s.
He married his childhood nemesis, Billie Seawright in 1961. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and worked at the Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant. He attended Modesto Junior College, Stanislaus State University, and Sacramento State University. He taught at Oakdale High School and retired from the Manteca Unified School District after 30 years, the majority of that as the Library Media teacher. He was respected as a Librarian, and just about anyone that met him was his friend. Books were the 'other lady' in his life. He loved to read, his pets, traveling, and photography - Hawaii and the Southwest were his favorite subjects - and he never stopped learning.
He was a member of the Escalon Church of Christ and served as an elder for many years. His happy spirit will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Billie; daughter Renee and son-in-law Jeff Swank of Oakdale; son Joe and daughter-in-law Carolina Ousley of Orlando, Florida; his dog, Dolly of Oakdale; exchange student daughter Dorthe Brandt and family, of Berlin, Germany; sister Betty and brother-in-law John Wyatt of Vancouver, Washington; two nephews, one niece, five great nieces, one great nephew and one grand dog. He is also survived by numerous friends.
A celebration of life will be held at the Oakdale Church of Christ, 620 West F St., on Saturday Aug. 30 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at The Lunch Pail on Bangs Avenue, in Modesto, his favorite hangout.
The family requests any person attending to be in their finest Hawaiian attire.
Remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Central Asia Institute (Pennies for Peace), Jewel Gardiner Memorial Scholarship (CSLA), or Dogs for the Deaf.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Aug. 27, 2008
