Reverend Sammy Ray Sheehy, age 82, forever entered the loving presence of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 27, 2019. He left his imprint on many hearts as he strived to serve the Lord in all of his endeavors. In his final days of life Sam declared, "I know Jesus loves me, and I am ready to meet him." Sam was born September 11, 1937 to John Clarence Sheehy and Dorothy Pauline (Johnson) Sheehy in Auburn Heights, Michigan. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; sisters, Emma (Wood), Dorothy (Babb), Patricia (Crabtree), Opal (Ogden), and Betty (Cook); brothers, James and Kenneth; and, beloved nieces and nephew, Valerie Bates, Janet Ogden and Victor Babb. Sam was raised in the close-knit community of Auburn Heights. In school he enjoyed sports and singing. He distinguished himself as a servant to others in roles such as Student Safety Officer. At age 14, Sam was carried off the baseball field after collapsing from rheumatic fever. Doctors gave his family no hope for recovery as many other children in the area had died of the disease. His parents dedicated themselves to prayer on his behalf. He received months of experimental treatment. His miraculous recovery became a medical test-case for cortisone treatment. After that life-changing event, Sam proclaimed, "God didnt save me from something, he saved me for something." This self-sacrificing mission is evident throughout his life. Sam graduated from Avondale High School in 1956, having established himself as a leader in the school by earning academic and athletic awards, participating in choir and glee club, and performing in live theater. He was an outstanding basketball player in the region. He attended Wayne State University in Detroit as the recipient of a scholarship from the Boys Club of America. He played baseball and ran cross-country track, and served as the Universitys Intramural Athletic Director for two years. In 1957, while still in college, Sam began organizing the Boys Club of Auburn Heights to fill a need he saw in his hometown community to mentor and coach young men. His organizational skills and leadership earned him the lasting nickname, "Chieftain." He earned a Bachelors Degree with dual majors in Physical Education and English, and continued his post-baccalaureate studies in Educational Sociology. Together with his brother-in-law, Howard Ogden, Sam formed a gospel quartet through the Nazarene Church that performed weekly on live TV in Detroit and was a local favorite at many church revivals. In 1958, Sam began his lifelong romance with Maryann, after catching each others eyes on a dusty church softball field. They grew up in the same town, both taught Sunday School, and both sang in the choir. They were married on August 27, 1960. After college, Sam taught in the Avondale School District for three years, while continuing to pursue his passion to build a nationally affiliated Boys Club program in his hometown. As his plan progressed, he eventually became Executive Director of the Boys Club of Auburn Heights, a position he held for eight years. During his tenure, he raised the funds and managed the project to build the Boys Club facility. The new facility opened November 6, 1967 with over 1,500 community members attending the event. The program grew to serve over 700 boys in the community under Sams leadership. Today it is called the Matilda R Wilson Boys and Girls Club of America in Auburn Hills. Sam always considered his Boys Club service as his "first ministry." He declined attractive offers to coach college baseball and opportunities to advance his career within the Boys Club in order to complete his mission within Auburn Heights. During that time, the Avondale School System established a college scholarship in Sams name. In 2018, many of the young men and women Sam mentored and coached all those years ago began planning a tribute event to honor him. The testimonials and memories that have poured in have been a great comfort to his family, and a perfect reflection of the quiet impact that Sam had on everyone he met throughout his life. The tribute is scheduled for October 12, 2019 at the Boys Club facility in Auburn Hills that Sam built. Throughout his young adult years, Sam felt a strong call to preach. This would be a difficult transition for a man with three small children. Yet, he told Maryann, "The call to preach is a call to prepare." In 1972, he enrolled in Olivet Nazarene College, relocated his family, and accepted a position as the Youth Pastor at Olivets College Church. Sam was grateful to receive a scholarship from the Robert MacDonald family to fund his education, and he benefited from the mentorship of Professor Forest T. Benner. Sam earned a Masters Degree in Theology in 1974. Sam pastored Nazarene churches in Michigan, New Jersey and Oklahoma. Together, Sam and Maryann led summer church camp programs for Nazarene youth in Michigan. After retiring from full-time pastorate, Sam continued to fill pulpits for churches in his community as needed. In 1999, Sam began what he called "his last ministry," serving his community as a Licensed Hearing Aid Fitter & Dealer. He established Heritage Hearing Aid Center in Bethany, Oklahoma to offer trustworthy and affordable hearing loss correction. In 2016, he began mentoring Renee Gonzales to continue his legacy, and she became his business partner, treasuring the role Sam played in her life. The goal of Sams life is contained in the Scripture verse, 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (KJV). His family and friends are proud to reflect on the many ways he accomplished Gods purpose for his life. Sam is survived by his wife of 59 years, Maryann (Beatty) Sheehy of Yukon; sons, Dr. Jeffrey Alan Sheehy (Molly) and Todd Kevin Sheehy; daughter, Robyn Lee Sheehy; honorary daughter, Renee Gonzales; brother, Carl Wayne Sheehy (Connie); sister, Ruth Montgomery (George); grandchildren: Amanda Sheehy, Ashley Patel (Amit), Austin Sheehy, and Taylor Sheehy; step-grandchildren: Kayleigh Berry, Jackson Nicodemus, and Zoey Nicodemus; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and other beloved family members. A Memorial Service is scheduled for Friday, October 11th at 2pm at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma. The service is coordinated by Mercer-Adams Funeral Home. Visitation with family will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Matilda R Wilson Boys and Girls Club of America, 26777 Halsted Road Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48331 or online at www.bgcsm.org/donate. Memorial Service Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, Chapel in the Round Friday, October 11, 2019 2:00 PM 6789 N.W. 39th Expressway Bethany, Oklahoma 73008