Samuel Morgan Zeigler, Jr

Samuel Morgan Zeigler, Jr. died Monday, July 13, 2009, after a long life of 96 years. He was a member of Mountain View United Methodist Church. Sam was born and raised in Norton, Virginia and attended Emory & Henry College where he played football and basketball. He was a veteran of World War II where he was in the Signal Corps. Sam moved to Kingsport in 1936 and worked for the Tennessee Eastman Corporation for 41 years, retiring in 1977. He loved gardening and loved to grow plants and give them away to his friends. Woodworking was his passion, and many children around the area have toys that Sam made and sold at the Christmas Connection over a period of several years. Sam was a wonderful storyteller, telling tales of life in the 1920's as a child delivering newspapers and how his nickname "Sugar Sam" originated from being caught one day amidst several barrels of candy in the back of his dad's grocery store.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kathleen Kitty Dearing Zeigler; a son, Samuel Zeigler, III of Knoxville; a daughter, Jenny Z. Bond and her husband Randy W. Bond; a grandson, Ryan D. Dillingham of Knoxville; two nephews, Dave Stokely and wife Darlene and Morgan Stokely and wife Joyce of South Carolina; a niece, Beverly Newson, also of South Carolina; and brothers-in-law, E.C. Dearing and wife Pearl, J.C. Dearing and wife Dorothy, and Glenn Dearing and wife Donna, all of Morristown.

His parents preceded him in death along with his two sisters, Juanita Stokely and Elizabeth Newsom. Sam will be sorely missed by his many friends and family members.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport. Graveside services will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park with Rev. John Hackney and Rev. Robert Countiss officiating. Military graveside honors will be performed by American Legion Post #3/265.

Family members and friends will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Teter, Wade Canipe, Ron Bumpers, Ken Fults, John Richardson, Art Johnson, and Alan Henderson.

Many thanks go out to the wonderful staff at The Wexford House and especially to the nurses and staff on the 4th and 7th floor of Indian Path Hospital for the excellent care both he and his family received at the end of his life.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mountain View United Methodist Church; 4405 Orebank Road; Kingsport, TN 37664.