Matthew Hayden "Matt" Samuels
October 22, 1962 — January 22, 2005
Matthew H. “Matt” Samuels, 42, Sheriff of Greenwood County was fatally wounded in the line of duty on January 19, 2005. Visitation will be held Saturday, January 22, 2005 from 6 – 8 P.M., at Koup Family Funeral Home in Eureka. Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M., Sunday, January 23, 2005 at the Eureka Junior\Senior High School Gymnasium.
Matt was born October 22, 1962, in Eureka to the late Charles W. & Mildred (Anderson) Samuels. His stepmom is Cheryl Samuels-Tyson. Matt graduated from Eureka High School in 1981. He married Tamara Bechtle on April 23, 1983. They have two children Heath, 19, and Sharlee, 15. Matt began his law enforcement career working for his father, Sheriff Charlie Samuels in 1986. He was first elected Sheriff in 2000, and was nine days into his second term. Matt was awarded the Silver Medal of Valor in 1992 for his acts of heroism while saving the life of another.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge Fidelity #106, Midian Shrine and President of the Kiwanis Club of Eureka. Matt is preceded in death by one sister, and his father, Charles W. Samuels.
Survivors include: wife, Tamara; son, Heath; daughter, Sharlee, all of Eureka; mother, Mildred Badders, of Iola; mother Cheryl Samuels-Tyson, of Russell; sisters, Roxanne Samuels, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wendy Linsey, of Admire; and Sheila Smith, of Hamilton; grandmother, Mary Houston, of Eureka; and grandfather Harold Cooper, of Moran.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Matt Samuels Scholarship Fund or the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045.
Matt was born October 22, 1962, in Eureka to the late Charles W. & Mildred (Anderson) Samuels. His stepmom is Cheryl Samuels-Tyson. Matt graduated from Eureka High School in 1981. He married Tamara Bechtle on April 23, 1983. They have two children Heath, 19, and Sharlee, 15. Matt began his law enforcement career working for his father, Sheriff Charlie Samuels in 1986. He was first elected Sheriff in 2000, and was nine days into his second term. Matt was awarded the Silver Medal of Valor in 1992 for his acts of heroism while saving the life of another.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge Fidelity #106, Midian Shrine and President of the Kiwanis Club of Eureka. Matt is preceded in death by one sister, and his father, Charles W. Samuels.
Survivors include: wife, Tamara; son, Heath; daughter, Sharlee, all of Eureka; mother, Mildred Badders, of Iola; mother Cheryl Samuels-Tyson, of Russell; sisters, Roxanne Samuels, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Wendy Linsey, of Admire; and Sheila Smith, of Hamilton; grandmother, Mary Houston, of Eureka; and grandfather Harold Cooper, of Moran.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to the Matt Samuels Scholarship Fund or the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital. Contributions may be sent in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045.
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