Coleen Sams, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 23, 2023, at the age of 91 years old.

Coleen was born the youngest of three children, on February 15, 1932, in Childress, Texas, to Albert Lee and Girtie Eason Funderburk.

She met and married Jerry James Sams in Childress, on September 30, 1949. While living in Texas, son, Jerry Dwayne Sams, was born in 1951, and daughter, Sonya Coleen Sams, in 1953. Shortly afterward the family moved to Southern California where son, Jimmie Lee Sams, was born in 1956, and daughter, Sharlotte Omega Sams, in 1957. The family relocated to a cattle ranch in Marysville in 1959, where Jerry and Coleen worked breeding and raising Appaloosa horses.

Later on, Coleen became a School Bus driver for the Marysville Unified School District. After losing Jerry in 1994, she devoted her time to helping others, whether working with the Red Cross after the New Year's Flood of 1997, or working as a volunteer for the Yuba County Sheriff's Office.

Coleen is survived by daughter, Sonya Mitchell and husband, Chris from Winnemucca, Nevada; son, Jim Sams and wife, Kelly from Marysville, California; as well as six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Coleen was preceded in death by husband, Jerry James Sams; son, Jerry Dwayne Sams; daughter, Sharlotte Sams St Clair; and by brother, Edward Funderburk of Amarillo, Texas; and sister, Lena (Mickey) White of Plainview, Texas.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Sun Oak Assisted Living in Citrus Heights for the professional care and true friendship they extended to Coleen.

A public viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, from 2-6pm, at Lipp and Sullivan Funeral Directors located at 629 D St., Marysville, CA 95901.

A private burial will be held at Wheatland Cemetery.