EVELYN MARIE WATSON SAMSON

Evelyn Marie Watson Samson passed away February 2, 2011 at age 85. Born in West Monterey, PA, she was a resident of Rural Valley later moving to the Oakmont area.

Evelyn was a graduate of the Rural Valley High School, class of 1943. She was a church organist and taught piano to many Rural Valley residents and had a second career as a substitute teacher for the Armstrong County School District upon completing her degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Evelyn continued to love music all her life. She was a regular presence at the Pittsburgh Pops and was a volunteer pianist at the Presbyterian Home in Oakmont for many years. She loved to read, garden, knit and spend time at the beach in Ocean City, NJ with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Harry Samson, sister Ann Ferguson and brother-in-law Bob, mother Mayme Brinkley, father, Forrest Watson, step-father, Ivan Brinkley, brothers, Max and Don Brinkley, and sister Helen. She is survived by her son Tom Samson (Roseann), of The Villages in Florida, daughter, Kathy Samson, of Plum Boro, with whom she made her home, daughter, Jaci Sloan (Ed), of Lexington, KY and granddaughter Elizabeth, of Ft. Thomas, KY; Sisters Ann Dickey and Pat Philippi, both of Rural Valley and Brother Ivan Brinkley of Norman, OK; nephew, Bob Ferguson (Nancy) of Poulsbo, WA. She is also survived by sister-in-law Jean(George) Parks and brother-in-laws Hugh (Eileen) Samson and Mike Serbin, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Friends will be welcomed by her family from 1 to 3 on Friday February 4th at the Carson/Boyer Funeral Home, Inc., Rural Valley, immediately followed by the funeral service with the Rev. Dr. Steve Wilson, of Oakmont Presbyterian Church, Officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to the Oakmont Presbyterian Church, Music Ministry, 415 Pennsylvania Ave., Oakmont, PA 15139.