- Date Of Birth: September 14, 1940
- Date Of Death: September 14, 2019
- State: Idaho
Samuel Howard Naramore was known to tell a great story and joke, and if he had a choice, he’d be telling you this story today, though with a dramatically different ending!
Sam was born September 14, 1940, in Caldwell, Idaho, and in what he would see as a final twist of humor, left our world on his 79th birthday, September 14, 2019. Sam had struggled with cancer for several months and though he likely could have left sooner, he held on for his birthday on a beautiful fall day when he would have rather been fishing. Or piloting his jet boat up the Salmon River. Or photographing the sunset. Or having cocktails with his wife of nearly 43 years, Sally.
Sam lived his life with energy and enthusiasm, curiosity and creativity, passion and generosity. His dad, Rex Edwin Naramore, and mom, Evelyn Christine Grant, had Sam out fishing and camping as soon as he could walk (or maybe even sooner!). Within years, Sam was fishing on his own and living his passion for nature and wildlife. After he graduated from Caldwell (Idaho) High School in 1959, he decided to tackle a different challenge: riding bulls. For several years Sam frequented rodeos attempting to tame a bull without losing his hat or the income from his construction work.
During this period Sam also began a new journey as a father, with the births of his three children. First was Samuel Wayne, and later Beth Christine and Joann Marie. He joined the Idaho National Guard working full time as an air conditioning specialist in the photo lab at Gowen Field Air National Guard Base in Boise, Idaho. His work at the Guard became a career and Sam worked, “40 years, nine months, and 14 days!” before he retired September 12, 2000.
In 1977, Sam met Sally and they decided to marry and begin a life together. This was no easy task with three kids each, but Sam embraced Sally’s children, Nancy, Dave, and Steve, as his own, while continuing to nurture his relationships with his own children. Sam spent time with all six kids teaching them to water ski, shoot a gun, drive a boat and fish. Sam showed his own children and his stepchildren how a father could love, support, and encourage them on their own journeys.
Sam had many interests and friends.
Sam was also an active and dedicated member of the Poachers Club, a historically significant Boise civic organization of conservation-minded men. Sam was elected to the Poachers January 14, 1989 and served as its president from 2010-2012. Sam loved the conservation and volunteer work of the Poachers, and he thrived on the camaraderie of its members.
During his lifetime, Sam pursued many passions including fishing, guiding his jet boat up and down rivers from the Snake to the Salmon to the Clearwater, bird hunting, photography, leather tooling, and traveling. With Sally by his side, Sam pursued adventures near and far – from steelhead fishing in rain and snow, to camping in the mountains to gather mushrooms, to gardening, to photographing villagers in Nepal. Sam loved exploring different cultures and meeting new people and wherever he traveled, he made new friends.
Sam’s respect for and curiosity about people and their lives endeared him to them. Not only did they share with him the stories of their lives, they allowed him to capture them in photographs. Sam had a talent for framing and capturing beauty, whether it was the face of a grandchild in his garden, the hummingbirds at the feeder, a Maasai warrior in Kenya or the Taj Majal in Agra, India.
Those casually acquainted with Sam assumed that he was a tough guy and he was. But those who knew him well — the Sam that his family and friends love — knew that he had a soft center filled with love, generosity, curiosity, acceptance, and a joy for people and life.
Sam has now joined his parents, Rex and Evelyn, his brother, John, and his daughter, Beth Christine, who passed before him. Sam leaves behind his wife, Sally, sons Samuel Naramore, David and Steven Haug, daughters Joanne Lacey and Nancy Haug, brothers Paul and Bruce Jorgensen, a sister, Mary Jane Jorgensen, 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, and many, many good friends.
