Samuel David Mehaffey

On the early morning of April 16th, Samuel David Mehaffey, 16, of Abilene, Texas, left this world. He is survived by his parents, Sam and Claire; the men he proudly called brothers, Tyler, Joshua and Luke; his grandparents Thomas and Amanda Watson, his beloved Uncle Mike, Morgan and Debbie Watson, Doni Hunter and Erik Carver, Kimberly Mehaffey, and cousins Sydney Watson, Garrett Watson, Nick Hunter and Tiffany Hunter and his all those who had the privilege and honor to know and love him. Though he was almost always affectionately known as "Little Sam," he was gifted and wise with expectations the sky. He was the very best of both his mother and father. Little Sam made everyone around him better. He lived and loved intensely and was never content with the status quo. Little Sam lived his short life seeking answers to important questions and asking questions that needed important answers. He sought perfection while expecting only that others are unabashedly themselves. He lived 6,075 days and truly lived every one of them. Innately intuitive, Little Sam knew just when to give a sheepish grin to break the tension, crack an inappropriate joke, or swish his perfected, signature hair sweep that would either work to get him out of a mess or into a bigger one. He loved intensely. He loved a lot. He loved family, his friends, conversation, competition, winning, sunsets, and Sark. He didn't love losing. Sam believed that if he wasn't first, he was last. This applied only to Sam, no one else. After all, no one else is Sam. He will be missed by his classmates, friends and family. Our hearts ache and we wonder why God took him. We wonder what Sam will do in the next world he couldn't do in this one. We wonder if we are even asking the right questions. We wonder what will fill the empty space. Don't mourn for us. Don't mourn for Sam. Remember him - live, love. We cherish his memory just as Sam cherished every moment. We cherish his laughter and smile. We search for answers and understanding. Sam anticipated that. Still we miss him. We miss the diplomat and peacemaker Sam, but we don't mourn for him. He finally has his super powers. Mourn for those who never lived. Mourn for those who never met Sam, those who never heard his laugh, those who never bested him in a chess match or those who never worked to frantically answer one of his many questions about life. Work to seek knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. As broken as we are for losing him, he lives inside us, his memory and influence, and his pure heart remain. "I asked the LORD to give me this boy, and he has granted my request." Samuel 1:27 It is with a very heavy heart we give our boy back to You. Samuel Mehaffey, may you feel all our love from beyond; may you have the happiness you gave to others, may God's wisdom and love give you peace. Now give us your strength. Give us your love. Give us your understanding. We will see you again Samuel David Mehaffey. All our love forever. Services will be Friday, April 20th at 2pm at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that because of Sam's love for dogs, memorial contributions in Sam's honor be made to the City of Abilene Animal Services, 925 South 25th Street, Abilene, TX 79602. (325-698-0085)