Joan Sample Funeral

Order:

Greeting and Prayer- RLJ

Announce Dinner at Jonesfield

Obituary

Joan Sample, 83 of Midland, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 16, 2026 at MyMichigan Medical Center of Midland. She was born to the late Paul and June (Inman) Hoffmann on November 24, 1942 in Saginaw, MI. Joan married the love of her life Larry S. Sample on November 24, 1962 and they shared 54 loving years together until he preceded her in death on April 9, 2017.

Joan graduated from Arthur Hill High School and went on to Central Michigan University where she studied education. She worked for Wicks Engineering for five years and after that she worked for the Department of Health and Human Services where she retired in 2002 after 25 years of service.

Joan was a Girl Scout Leader, avid quilter and she loved gardening. You could always find her making her daughters clothes, doll clothes, mending Larry’s pants, and in her later years quilting.

Religion was a cornerstone of Joan’s life. She accepted Jesus Christ into her life at the early age of eight and was a devout Christian the rest of her life. Joan was a member of the Assembly of God where she was a Sunday School teacher. Joan transitioned to the Amazing Grace Church in Wheeler where she was a member for over 45 years and was involved in the food bank Helping Hands Ministry. She also headed up the Women of Season group for about six years.

Joan is survived by her daughters; Kelly Snyder (Rich Smith), Vonda Kulick (Brian Kulick), grand fur pups; Gabby and Harley. She is also survived by many relatives and beloved friends.

Scriptures

John 14:1–3 NKJV

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Revelation 21:3–6 NKJV

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

Song- “He Touched Me” Gaithers’ video

Eulogy-

Jeanne Chaffin

Carla Brown

Sharon Jolliff

Special Music- “As the Deer Pants for the Water” “Holy Ground”

Natalya Baylock

Message- Loyalty, Love, and Legacy RLJ

Dismissal- Announce Dinner at Jonesfield

Psalm 116:15 NKJV

Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.

Psalm 116:15 MSG

When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him.

Your Mother

The one who birthed you, who physically released you into the world, and made an indelible mark on our soul. And when she no longer occupies space and time in our lives – even after decades—a huge shift occurs, and we feel deeply, sharply, this loss.

Others have described this special relationship with our mother that refuses to end: “She’s the beginning and she is never the end. She starts and then she endures. She is the wisest of all creatures, carries you wherever she needs to be herself – feeds, clothes and proudly places your imperfect drawing of an horse on the refrigerator door; the ‘Hall of Fame’ in every home.

“She’s your mother. No matter her achievements or accomplishments outside the home, whether in a big or small job, her dying thought will be as ‘mother’.”

Three Key Words:

1. Loyalty

Matthew 25:21–23 NKJV

His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Loyalty- Hesed- Loving Kindness

2. Love

Matthew 22:37 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Matthew 22:38–39 NKJV

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

At a mother’s funeral, the pastor read from Psalm 23. As they listened to those familiar words, the family was struck by the depth of their meaning. 'Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.' It made them think—my mother walked that valley with grace, teaching me to trust God even in moments of darkness. Her faith was a light that guides me still. We all carry parts of our mothers with us, illuminating our paths just as theirs did for them.

3. Legacy

Psalm 78:4 NKJV

We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.

Proverbs 20:7 NKJV

The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

3 John 4 NKJV

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

At a funeral, someone placed a flower on the casket of their mother. Tears streamed down their face, yet they smiled as they recounted a cherished memory. This moment reminds us of Proverbs 31:31, which says, 'Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.' We honor Joan not just in their absence, but in the legacy of love she leaves behind. This is a commission for us to remember her impact on our faith and lives.

The Dash by Linday Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?