Sandra "Sonnie" Samuelson

May 29, 1935 - August 25, 2010

Sandra M. ?Sonnie? Samuelson, 75, of 4696 Maple Grove Rd., Bemus Point, died at 9:30 A.M. Friday (Aug. 20, 2010) in the Hamot Medical Center in Erie. She was born May 29, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pa., the daughter of Charles W. and Erma K. Zimmerman Hammers. A graduate of Edgewood High School in Pittsburgh, she was also a graduate of the Carnegie Institute of Technology, where in 1957 she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. Prior to her marriage to Philip A. Samuelson in 1961, she had been employed as a home economist for the Indiana and Warren County Pa. Extension Bureaus. In later years she taught reupholstering in Westfield, Jamestown, and Warren, and also did custom reupholstering work. A member of the Christ Lutheran LCMC, she had been a charter member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Bemus Point, where she was Sunday school superintendent for many years, had served as Assistant Liturgist, a greeter, started the mission tour to Honduras, and participated in many other church activities. She had been active with the Experiment in International Living and Compassion International, through which she hosted many international students in her home. She had also served as a 4H leader, and as a food and clothing judge at the Warren and Crawford County Pa. fairs. No one was ever a stranger to Sonnie, as her unreserved and extroverted personality provided her with an extraordinary ability to reach out to others and to help any person in need. She was also very imaginative, which she demonstrated by organizing and encouraging her children in various projects. Surviving are three sons: Jeffrey C. (Lydia) Samuelson of Ashville, Peter P. (Dawn) Samuelson of Bemus Point, and David P. Samuelson of Naples, Fla.; a daughter, Shari A. (Scott) Hallberg of Staunton, Va.; seven grandchildren: Katie and Danny Hallberg of Staunton, Va., Judah, Jubal, and Joram Samuelson of Ashville, and Taylor and Ryan Samuelson of Bemus Point; a brother, David Hammers of Jacksonville, Fla.; nieces and nephews: Ruth and Frank Loney of Naples, Fla., Beth and Roy Reynolds of Bend, Ore., and Laurie and Terry McNamara of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and a foster daughter, Liz Tabone of Arizona. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Philip A. Samuelson, whom she married Oct. 14, 1961 in Jamestown, and who died Dec. 11, 2009; and by two aunts: Eleanor and Esther Zimmerman. A celebration of Sonnie?s life will be at 1:00 P.M. Thursday in the Bemus Point United Methodist Church. Jeffrey Samuelson, her son, will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4:00 ? 7:30 P.M. Wednesday in Powers, Present & Sixbey Funeral Home. Messages to the family may be sent by visiting the website www.presentsixbeyfuneral.com. The family suggests that memorials be made to the Ryan Samuelson Fund, c/o M&T Bank, Bemus Point, N.Y. 14712.