Samantha Gadberry

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Samantha (Sammie) Faye Gadberry, 15, of Chaffee died Sunday morning, Oct. 21, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Gir-ardeau.

Sammie was born on Dec. 22, 1985, in Cape Gir-ardeau, the cherished daughter of Rick and Cindy (Sheeley) Gadberry.

She was a freshman at Chaffee High School. She loved deeply and smiled often.

Sammie enjoyed the colors pink and purple. In the summer months she could always be found swimming in her backyard pool surrounded by her doting family and friends. Our precious girl was an avid movie buff, with "Dirty Dancing" being her favorite to watch. She had a fabulous, yet unusual sense of humor. When she wasn't busy giggling she listened to George Strait, Randy Travis, Barbara Fairchild and Elvis. She loved musicals, mystery novels, her Siamese cat Tutter and having her nails painted.

She was a rodeo and wrestling enthusiast. She also collected carousel horse figurines. She attended the Kenny Rogers Center in Sikeston, Mo., for several years and was their poster child in 1991 and 1995. She was and will continue to be an inspiration to all whom had the privilege of knowing and loving her.

Survivors include her parents; her maternal grandparents, Don and Leeada Sheeley of Chaffee; her paternal grandparents, Doy and Claudia Gadberry of Chaffee; her brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Jennifer Gadberry, and nephew Dylan of Benton; her sister and brother-in-law, Michelle and Mark Perkins, and nephews Zach and Jake of Jackson; her uncle and aunt Perry and Rhonda Sheeley and first cousin Megan of Cape Girardeau; her aunt Sara Sheeley and uncle Charlie Hemingway of Columbia, Mo. Sammie had many great-aunts and great-uncles as well as many cousins and friends.

Friends may call at the Amick Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee after 4 p.m. today. There will be a parish prayer service at 7 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee. Rev. Ralph Duffner will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Ambrose Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Trever and Jordan Duncan, Richard Hinkebein and Brandon Dirnberger.

The family has requested that expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of memorials to the Kenny Rogers Center located in Sikeston.