Obituary of Laurence Merrill Sams

Laurence (“Larry”,”Poppie”) Sams died unexpectedly and peacefully on April 5, 2019 at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center due to heart complications. He was born on March 9, 1947 in Portland, OR, grew up in Clackamas, and was a graduate of Clackamas High School in 1965. Larry earned a BS in Zoology at Lewis and Clark College and graduated in 1969. He was a star basketball player in both high school and college. He was also inducted in the Lewis and Clark Hall of Fame as a member of the 1968 track team. Larry served in the United States Coast Guard in 1969 until honorably discharged in 1975. He later graduated cum laude with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Washington State University in Pullman, WA in 1978. Larry is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Constance (“Connie”) who he met during freshman orientation week at Lewis and Clark and it was “love at first sight”; daughter, Julie (Brian Arthur) and son, Peter (Minna Kim); and grandchildren, Collin and Ian Arthur and Caitie, Corie and Ben Sams. He was preceded in death by his parents, June and Oral Sams. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Corkie Odell (Mike Sollenberger) and brother-in-law, Doug Odell (Wynne) of Fort Collins, CO. Lastly, he is survived by beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues. Larry was a dedicated and compassionate veterinarian and partner at Hollywood Pet Hospital for over 30 years. He was a ‘man of all trades’ to fund his veterinary tuition. He loved to travel, was a lover of all foods, especially noodles, was a sports fanatic, had a memory like a vault and an incredible wealth of knowledge. He was famous for his nicknames, his duck voice, and sense of humor. He had a huge presence, infectious smile, and a heart full of gold. Larry was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was loved by all and will be deeply missed. Larry was a humanitarian and donated his time and money to many different organizations. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Cat Adoption Team (www.catadoptionteam.org): donate through PayPal Giving Fund or send a check to 14175 SW Galbreath Dr, Sherwood, OR 97140. Portland Rescue Mission (www.portlandresucemission.org): donate through PayPal or mail a check to P.O. Box 3713, Portland, OR 97208-3713. Or to The Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org).