James Albert Samples (J. A.), 89, of Lake Kiowa, TX passed into the loving arms of Jesus on February 23, 2025, in Lake Kiowa, TX.  

A service to celebrate J. A.’s life is planned on Monday, March 3 at First Baptist Church, Whitesboro, TX led by Brother Mike Flanagan. Visitation at 10:30 am, Service at 11:30 and interment in Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro.  

He is survived by his wife, Mabel Harris Samples, his son, Terry Lynn Samples, daughter, Judy Gwyn Samples Daugett, grandson, Jay W. Samples, granddaughter, Kaylynn Samples Eckler and husband Alex, two great-granddaughters, Katy and Evy Eckler, Sister-in-Law Drema Samples and Sister-in-Law Karoll Tipton Samples and many nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.  

J. A. was born November 3, 1935, in Campbell, Hunt County, TX to Ira Albert and Ruby Lee Calahan Samples. 

J. A. spent his earlier life in Hunt County moving to Obrien, Knox County TX when he was in the fourth grade working on the farm with his parents.  

At the beginning of his senior year, his parents moved to Garland, TX. He chose to stay with family and play sports his senior year.  On March 13 of his senior year a tornado blew away the home he was staying in and everything he owned. The Red Cross provided him with two shirts, pants, shoes and everything he needed. He graduated from O’Brien High School as Salutatorian in May of 1953.

He then moved to Murphy, TX where his parents now lived and after a summer of part-time work went to work for DeSoto, Inc., a paint maker for Sears. He started doing anything in the office no one else wanted to do. He went to the bank, got the mail, made all the copies, made milkshakes at lunch and collected the lunch money.

In 1954 he met the love of his life, Mabel Harris on a blind date. A year and a half later, on August 26, 1955, they were married in the Vickery Methodist Church in Dallas and spent 69 happy years of marriage together. They had two children together, Terry Lynn Samples and Judy Gwyn Samples Daugett. 

He worked his way up to Plant Manager. In his career he managed three plants in Florida and Texas.  Sherwin Williams purchased the Desoto national system, and he retired in 1996 with Sherwin-Williams after forty-three years in the paint business moving back to TX from Florida.

He and Mabel built a home in Lake Kiowa and have lived there 28 years.  

J. A. had a servant’s heart and was always involved in teaching or leading in the Baptist Church. He had a great passion for the study of God’s Word and Jesus and spent time training others to reach and teach people as well. He served in churches in Texas and Florida in which his servant heart had an impact on God’s kingdom in amazing ways. 

J. A. is predeceased by his parents, his sister, Helen Louise Samples Peacock and husband Billy DeWayne; brother Billy Joe Samples and wife Wilma Laverne Crawford; brother Virgil Lee Samples and wife Diana Kay McCallum; and brother, George Kenneth Samples. Several nieces and nephews.  

The family would like to sincerely thank Home Hospice for the great care provided to J. A., as well as First Baptist Church for all their help and care. 

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Whitesboro Building Fund.