Samuel D. Lile

Samuel D. Lile was born on June 5, 1929 in Freedom, Oklahoma to George Abraham and Ida Mae (Jackson) Lile. He was the youngest of five children. His family moved to Greeley, Kansas when he was a child and he grew up there. Sam entered the Army just before the Korean War. He was stationed in Alaska before it became part of the United States. He was united in marriage to Hazel Marie Fort on July 11, 1949 in Olympia, Washington. After leaving the Army Sam and Hazel lived with their two children in Denver, Colorado & Protection, Kansas before they returned to Eastern Kansas to live in Paola. In 1965 they moved to Greeley, Kansas and made it their permanent home. Sam worked in farming, and later in bridge and road construction. After retiring from construction he opened a tire shop at his home. Sam loved to play practical jokes on his friends and family, and many have fallen prey to them, especially on Halloween. He enjoyed raising calves and having milk cows and goats and all varieties of animals, especially his dogs. His hobby was going to auctions, and the proof of that can be seen in his yard in Greeley. Sam had a working knowledge of almost everything with a motor, and could weld, build, drive, and repair almost anything He always had time to visit with anyone that stopped by and spent most of his time outdoors tinkering. He was quick to come to the aid of someone who needed it and has literally given someone the shirt of his back. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Joe Lile, Clyde Lile and his wife Edith, and Leslie Lile, and one sister, Wanda Steakley and her husband Ed; his daughter, Connie Ray and her husband, Ivan; and one grandson Nathan Lile. He is survived by his wife Hazel of Guest -Home Estates in Garnett, Kansas; his son Donald Lile and wife, Bonnie of Garnett, Kansas; grandson Tracy Ray, and wife Amber of Panama City, Florida; granddaughter Michelle Ray and Jason Furnish of Paola, Kansas, and niece Betty Jo (Lile) Cramer of Lawrence, Kansas who was raised as his sister and best friend; also numerous nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday. June 29, 2011 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Chapel, Garnett, burial will follow in the Paola Cemetery, Paola, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 6:00-8:00 PM, Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Greeley Fire Department and sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .