Karma Louise Sams passed away peacefully at 1:57 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 2019, surrounded by her family. Karma was born on Monday, June 19, 1944 in Sacramento, CA to Roland and Evadna (Mahan) Geyer. She immediately inherited the title of sister to her older brother, David.
Two years later, her sister Mariel completed their family. After living in Coloma and North Sacramento, the family settled in Elverta, CA. Shortly after graduating from Norte Del Rio High School in 1962, she began working as a telephone operator, was married and had her daughter, Lisa in 1964.
The union was short-lived and they were divorced in 1966. Karma began working at Cargill, Inc. where met John (Jack) Sams. Soon after their first date to Yosemite National Park, Jack proposed to her after they saw the movie The Sound of Music.
They were married on July 22, 1967. While living in West Sacramento, CA, they welcomed their first child together, daughter Judith in 1969. Soon after moving to Omaha, NE, their family was completed when their son, Roland, was born in 1971.
The family remained in Nebraska until Jack’s job transferred them to Baton Rouge, LA. in 1975. Karma’s mother passed away in 1976 and the opportunity arose for the family to transfer back to California in the late summer of that same year.
The family moved into a new home in Elverta in 1977. Karma began working as the secretary at Calvary Lutheran Church; the same church that the family attended. After a few years of working at the church, she became a teacher’s assistant at Rio Linda Elementary, where her sister, Mariel worked, as well.
In the late 1980s, she began working in the insurance industry as a Worker’s Compensation claims processor. She was a Claims Examiner at CMI when she retired in 2007. She was blessed to meet some of her best friends while working there.
Karma was a very accomplished baker, cook and seamstress. She loved to share items that she made with others. One of her favorite projects was making cookies, candies and breads for gifts at Christmas.
However, in the past few years, she mentioned that she didn’t see herself doing as much the following year. She will always be remembered for her giving, loving and compassionate nature…and her hugs. She always put others before herself.
Being a grandmother was one of her biggest pride and joys. She loved her grandchildren beyond measure. One of her last acts of kindness was making heart-shaped Valentine’s Day cookies for them.
Karma was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings and her son, Roland. Those surviving are her loving husband of 51 years, Jack Sams; daughters Lisa Swanson of Sacramento and Judith Lucchesi of Elverta; grandchildren Matthew Lucchesi, Christopher Lucchesi & Nicholas Lucchesi of Elverta, and Sophia Chavez & Kristian Chavez of Sacramento; her loyal dog, Summer, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, cousins and loving friends. A viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2019 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 515 L Street, Rio Linda, CA 95763.
The funeral service will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the same day. A graveside service will immediately follow at Sunset Lawn, 4701 Marysville Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95838. Everyone is invited to the reception at the church’s Fellowship Hall following the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Karma Sams Memorial Fund at Calvary Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 310, Rio Linda, CA, 95673.
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