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Donald Gene White Jr., 63, of Celina, TX went to be with the Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 11, 2025. Donald was born in 1961, during category 5 Hurricane Carla. His mother, Betty White, fled to Wharton, TX while his father, Donald White, Sr. was on Naval duty. When Donald Sr. returned from Naval Service, he said this boy is named “Sam” not Donald. Donald was then forever known as “Sam.” Betty and Donald Sr. raised their sons, Sam and Duvel in Clute, TX. Sam was an excellent baseball player whose passions led him to Texas A&M for two years until his desire to spread the gospel took him to Dallas Baptist University where he graduated in 1984. It was at Dallas Baptist University where he met Becky Sillerud, who he married in 1986. Sam moved his new family to the Chicago area where he obtained a Masters from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Their first son, Samuel Levi White, was born in 1990. Embarking on a journey of ministry, the family moved through McAlester and Durant Oklahoma over the next few years until settling in Aransas Pass, TX where Sam presided as pastor of First Baptist Aransas Pass. In 1995, their daughter Bethany Michelle White was born in Corpus Christi. The family followed Sam’s ministry journey through towns surrounding Houston and Tyler, Texas working at churches and bringing smiles to kids' faces with puppet and clown shows. The Lord brought Sam’s family to Wylie, TX in 2001 when Sam took on a new profession operating a photography studio, a passion he carried forward in life, intentionally capturing photos of the moments that marked his family legacy. Through the years, Sam’s passion for athletics kept him actively involved as a coach of baseball teams and eventually learning to coach ice hockey with his son. Sam and Becky were married for 24 years. In 2011 Sam began working on his PHD of Religion and Environmental Studies at the University of North Texas. Sam met Amanda Smith in Frisco, TX and they later married in Eureka Springs, AR on July 25, 2012. Upon marrying Amanda, he gained four bonus children from her, and a partner with a shared love for wiener dogs, teaching and sports. Sam and Amanda moved to Gonzales, TX where he began his career as a teacher and a coach of both softball and volleyball. Sam was passionate about History and Economics, and his ministry of saving souls took on a new form in the mission to save children from the deceptions of communism and socialism. The move to Gonzales brought them close to both of their daughters, Bethany and Abby, who were attending Texas State University, and Sam moved his Grandmother, Wilmoth White, into the house next door. Sam was a caretaker who looked after both his grandmother until she passed and later took care of his mother. In 2019, they moved to Celina, TX. He taught for a total of 13 years and was a teacher at Memorial for 6 years teaching AP economics. He continued to coach volleyball and softball throughout the years and enjoyed being the voice announcer of the Memorial Warriors when he could. Sam and Amanda built a loving household that blended two families over the 12 years and both had a deep love for their grandchildren. Sam earned a new title that most family knew him by, and what he will certainly live on as: Pepaw. Pepaw loved watching football (Dallas Cowboys), hockey (Dallas Stars), going to musical events and movies, playing golf, getting the boat out on the lake, fishing, traveling, camping, cooking and tailgating for their children at Texas State and University of North Texas. He was an avid reader and a lifelong learner. He established a legacy in his family of learning, acts of service, and appreciation for the moments spent together. Sam was dearly loved by his family and friends, many of whom he led to a knowledge of or a closer walk with God. Now, he is finally face to face with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and is experiencing first hand all that he taught and believed. Sam is survived by his wife Amanda of Celina, TX; the mother of his children Becky Erickson of Arlington, TX; mother, Betty Boullion of Celina, TX; two children, Samuel White and wife Catherine of Dallas, TX, Bethany Waltman and husband Tanner of Fort Worth, TX, and his bonus children, Son, Jeff Watson and wife Tiffany of Southaven, MS; three daughters, Rachael Bowers and husband Jeff of Pilot Point, TX, Grace Watson of Celina, TX, and Abby Moody and husband Dillon of Aubrey, TX; seven grandchildren, Calvin White, Sophie White, Mandy Kate Watson, Luke Watson, Mary Katherine Watson, Charleigh Bowers, and Huck Moody; half-brother, Dwayne White of Bay Town, TX; two step-brothers, Bobby Boullion and wife Kim of Angleton, TX, and Paul Boullion and Madison of Tulsa, OK; and two step-sisters, Teresa Goodwine and husband Royce of Sugarland, TX and Diann Dannhaus and husband Art of Angleton, TX. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald White Sr.; grandmother, Wilmoth White; and brother, Duvel White. A memorial service will be held at 10:00AM, Saturday, January 18, 2025, at First Celina Baptist Church in Celina, TX. Flower donations may be made from Pilot Point Florist or memorial donations may be made to the Coach Sam White Memorial HS Softball Fund by sending a Zelle payment to warriorsoftballbc@gmail.com or by check payable to Warrior Softball Booster Club, Subject: Sam White Memorial Softball Fund, and mailed to PO Box 485, Frisco TX 75034. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Donald "Sam" Gene White

September 19, 1961 - January 11, 2025