Samuel E. "Sam" McVay Sr.

Samuel Emmitt �Sam� McVay, Sr. 68 of Jackson, was born on April 22, 1942 in New Madrid County, Missouri to George Harp and Johnnie Gordon Beeson McVay. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 20, 2011 in Ghana, Africa while serving with his wife, Linda, as short-term missionaries to the Father�s House Ghana for children rescued from slavery. Sam married the former Linda Sevic in 1988 in St. Louis, MO. He is survived by his devoted wife, of the home, his mother of Scott City, two sons and daughters-in-law, Sam, Jr. (Amy) and Tim (Sherri) all of El Dorado, Kansas, a stepson and daughter-in-law Greg and June Pope of Waynesville, Missouri and a stepdaughter, Cherie Smith of St. Louis, Missouri. Other survivors include one sister, Marsha McVay Cain (Charlie) of Brinkley, Arkansas and one brother Byron McVay (Laura) of Waynesville, Missouri. In addition, he is survived by 12 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren. Sam held a Bachelors degree from Southeast Missouri State University in political science. He also completed both Master and PhD degrees from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale in Community Development and Psychology. Sam also served his country in the United States Air Force retiring after achieving the rank of Colonel. Sam worked as an Assistant Administrator at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Administrator for Health Services at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He also served as Administrator of the Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After several years, he was promoted to serve as the Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission. After two years of service to the state, he transitioned back to the Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau until his retirement. Sam gained great pleasure spending his time, both as a public servant and as a servant to his Lord. He served as the president of the National Health College Administrators and was also president of the National Veterans Homes Administrators. His dedication to his faith was most important to Sam. He and Linda were volunteers for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and traveled to Louisiana to help victims of hurricane Katrina. He also served as the administrator of the First Baptist Church in Jackson for several years. He was a great encourager of people. Sam and Linda arrived in Ghana, Africa on Wednesday, March 15 to serve for four weeks as house parents to eight boys who were bought out of slavery from the fishing industry on Lake Volta. He experienced great joy in teaching these eight young men about flying kites and about Jesus Christ. Sam died serving his Lord. Visitation is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at the Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau and funeral services will be held on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Jackson. Internment will be at 3:00 p.m. in the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, MO. with full Military Rite by the Missouri Honor Team. The family requests donations to the Fathers House International, P. O. Box 481077, Charlotte, NC (www.FathersHouseGhana.com).

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Samuel E. "Sam" McVay Sr.

March 20, 2011