Samuel Bryant 87, Holtville
Nov. 26, 1929 - Apr. 10, 2017
Samuel Addison Byron Bryant, 87, of Holtville, California, passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, April 10, 2017, surrounded by his loved ones. Born in Braymer, Missouri, to Lee and Cloe Bryant, he was one of four children. Sam was married to Mary Marie (Dolly) Durham for 65 years. They had three daughters. He served as pastor of the Little Valley Primitive Baptist Church for over 20 years. Sam was a loving and supportive father and grandfather known as Grandpa Sam to his 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren and to many of their friends and teammates.
Sam lived the first 10 years of his life on the family farm in Missouri. In 1939, in response to the Great Depression, the family moved to California. He spent the rest of his childhood traveling the western states following the crops, working the harvests alongside his family, and attending school in the migrant camps. Sam joined the U. S. Navy in 1948 serving during the Korean War. In April 1951, he was promoted to Radarman 3rd class and served on the USS Curtis at Eniwetok during the testing of the hydrogen bomb. Sam was honorably discharged on July 25, 1952, with a Korean Service Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, and a Navy Occupational Service Medal.
While stationed in San Francisco, Sam took every opportunity to drive to Strathmore, California, to visit the love of his life, Dolly. They were married in Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 1, 1952. Sam and Dolly moved to Holtville in 1958, and Sam began working for the County of Imperial in 1960. He retired after 28 years as Business Manager of the Imperial County Probation Department.
Sam loved to travel and spend time with his family. He took them on epic road trips throughout the western United States. He had a great love of the outdoors and taught his three daughters to water ski, drive a jeep, ride a bike, and bait a fishing hook. After retirement, Sam and Dolly spent their summers traveling across the United States and Canada in their motorhome. Sam was happiest when traveling with Dolly, hunting with his brother, Jim, and brother-in-law, Bob Wall, riding his dune buggy or quad, or attending one of his grandchildren’s sporting or school events. Into his seventies, Sam continued to go for quad rides with friends that frequently ended at Camacho’s Restaurant.
Sam was raised in the Primitive Baptist Church. While on leave from the Navy in 1951, he was baptized at the Log Creek Baptist Church in Missouri. He was a member of the Little Valley Primitive Baptist Church in Holtville, California. He was ordained as a Deacon in 1971 and as a Minister in 1993. Throughout his life, he remained a deeply religious person who loved attending services, studying, preaching, and listening to the gospel. He had a strong, clear singing voice and led the congregation in song along with his brother, Jim, for many years. Often Sam and Dolly’s travels were planned around church meetings or visits with their extended church family.
Sam took great joy in being surrounded by family. He was very proud of his three daughters, Jeannette, Laura, and Alison, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Sam is survived by his wife, Dolly, and his sister, Rowena Wall, his daughters Jeannette Monroy, Laura Fischer (Bob), and Alison Crabbe (Tom), his grandchildren James Nilson (Julie), Cyndi Read (Kevin), Dr. Nicole Nilson (Glenn Presser), Jason Garewal (Wendy), Jared Garewal (Mariana), Justin Garewal (Rachel), Erika Schlagheck (Nick), Alexandra Fischer, Lauren Crabbe (Michael McCrory), and Sarah Crabbe, and great-grandchildren Abigail, Sam, Jared, Jasmine, Henry, Andrew, Reese, Kamryn, Clark, and Oisin.
A viewing will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hems Brothers Mortuary located at 1975 South 4th Street, El Centro, California. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 9 a.m. at Terrace Park Cemetery located at 1564 Zenos Road, Holtville, California. The family invites everyone who knew and loved Sam to attend a celebration of his life directly after the burial services on Saturday, April 22, 2017. The celebration will be held at 975 Maple Avenue, Holtville.