Terri L. Samples

Terri L. Samples, 61, died late Saturday, April 22, 2023 at The James Cancer Hospital in Columbus.

She was born in Bucyrus on September 3, 1961 to the late Jack B. Stewart and Shirley E. (Kirby) Hess. After attending Bucyrus Schools through 10th grade, Terri moved with her family to Delaware, graduating from Hayes High School in 1979. She lived in Cincinnati for four years, then returned to Bucyrus where Terri raised her family and worked as a Legal Secretary for Attorney James Pry for 31 years. She married Brent L. Samples in 2007.

Terri will be remembered for her caring and forgiving spirit. She enjoyed listening to music, dancing, wine, beach vacations, and loved to host events and gatherings. She was an excellent cook and an avid shopper who will be missed by QVC and other frequent shopping destinations. Her Kentucky Derby parties included hats and mint juleps and the two “5K for Gabe” events were a big success. Terri converted to Catholicism in the early 80s and she was a member of Catholic Ladies of Columbia and worshiped at St. Joseph Parish in Crestline.

Terri is survived by her husband, Brent; children, Ryan (Kiley) Gabriel, Dustin Gabriel, and Jackie (Sam) Plott; grandchildren, Holden, Riley, and Trey Gabriel; stepdaughter, Monica (Cody) Steele and their children, Cooper, Meyer, and Ryder; siblings, Wesley Stewart, Kendrick (Sherri) Adams, and Eric Hess; nieces, Kendra and Chesney Adams; and step siblings, Nikki Spriggs and Mark Nye.

In addition to her parents, Terri was preceded in death by her aunt, Rita Stroble and stepsister, Stacy Bahnasy.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, April 28 at 10:30 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Crestline with Father Jeffery Smith officiating. Inurnment will follow in Biddle Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be made payable to the Stefanie Spielman Cancer Fund or Friends of the Crawford Park District and given at the service or at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus. Memories and photos are encouraged to be shared on Terri’s Tribute Wall.