Samuel Wilkerson Veal, 64, of Hoyt, Kan., died June 2 after a courageous battle with cancer. The son of Billie and LaFaton Wilkerson Veal, he was born in 1943 in Porterdale. He graduated from Henry County High School, McDonough. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1969, including several tours in Vietnam. Prior to the Air Force, he farmed in McDonough and worked at Oxford Manufacturing Co. in Covington. After the Air Force, he made his home in Kansas where he married Kay Henderson. They later divorced, and he married Marsha Kern Kelley in 1986. Mr. Veal worked at Goodyear, DelMonte and Payless Shoe, prior to founding Yosemite Sam's Auto Repair, still in operation. His favorite pastimes were drag racing in a 1978 Ford truck and collecting NASCAR and Yosemite Sam memorabilia. He was known for his sense of humor, his handlebar mustache and his love of family. Mr. Veal was preceded in death by father and brother James Michael Veal.

Surviving are wife; children Richard Veal and wife Eileen, Topkda, Kan., Stephanie Jensen and husband Kevin, Hoyt, Lance Kelley and Wife, Erin, Hoyt, Angela Kraus and husband Roger, Tonganoxie, Kan; numerous grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; mother LaFaton of Covington; sisters Billie Hardy, Conyers, Janie Garner, Stone Mountain, Ann Collin, Snellville, Madalyn Elliott, McDonough; many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, July 7, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, Topeka, Kan. Following services friends and family are invited to Schneider's Cabin at Gage park for food and visitation. Burial will be at Bethany Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Covington. Memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 Rochester Road, Topeka, Kan 66617. To leave a special message for the family, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.