In Memoriam - Michael Kenneth Gene Samford

A Celebration of Life will be held for Mike Samford on April 7, 2023 2:00 pm at Beck Funeral Home, 4765 Priem Lane, Pflugerville, Texas.

Mike passed away unexpectedly on March 1, 2023 in British Columbia, Canada at the age of 72. Mike was born on February 11, 1951 in Nacogdoches, Texas and was the second child of what would become a family of 11 children. He grew up in Lufkin, Texas, graduating from Lufkin High School in 1969.

After graduation Mike worked for a land surveying company in East Texas where he discovered his love for surveying. After moving to Austin, Texas in 1972, he worked for Ralph Harris Surveying as a Party Chief & Draftsman. While in this position he completed college courses at The University of Texas at Austin and received his Registered Public Land Surveyor License in 1980. By the end of his time at Ralph Harris Surveying he had become a partial owner of the company. In 1987 he started his own company, Samford and Associates. After years of his hard work the name Samford & Associates is respected by the central Texas survey community.

In 2005 Mike met his current wife Hope Woolridge of British Columbia, Canada. Mike had previously been married to Nancy Gilbert Samford in 1973 and together they had two sons, Jonathan Michael Samford and Christopher Cody Samford.

Mike and Hope enjoyed Texas life together from 2005-2011, when she returned to Canada but they continued a committed long distance relationship. In 2018, Mike retired after 46 years as a surveyor in Austin and surrounding counties and then moved to Canada. He applied for Canadian Permanent Residency which was approved in January 2022. He was proud of his status in both countries.

Mike loved the area in which he spent the last years of his life, always delighting in sending pictures and videos of the changing of the seasons, weather events, as well as his and Hope’s patio filled with bountiful plants and produce. Mike enjoyed fishing and did so every chance he got. His favorite place in the world was Port Aransas, Texas; for this reason, Mike expressed his wish that his ashes would be scattered there and his wish will be honored by his family on April 9th, 2023.

Mike is survived by his wife Hope, his children Jonathan Samford, Cody Samford and wife Audrey Samford, Shauntese Constantinoff, Cole Constantinoff and wife Morgan Constantinoff, his grandchildren Ethan Samford, Gavin Samford, Gabrielle Peek her husband Chris Peek, Alexandria Davila, and her fiancé Ryan Sisneroz, Anna Prochnow, J.R. Samford, his fiancé Desiray Ortiz, and great grandchildren Emma Constantinoff and Jeremy Constantinoff, Juan Robert Samford Jr. (Jar Jar) Mia Samford & Lia Samford, Jacob Sisneroz and newest addition Zealand Sisneroz, his brothers David (Buzz) Samford and Scott Samford, his sisters Diane Morgan (David), Susan Frey (Dan), Deb Edwards, Celia Gubera, Paula Caldwell (Brad), Pamela Mays (Gary) and Anne Christine Weaver (Richard) as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins and friends.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents (Charles M. Samford and Joan Besner Samford), his grandparents (Mr. and Mrs. Elton V. Samford of Center, Texas and Mr. and Mrs. William S. Besner of Lufkin, Texas), and his brother John Joseph Samford.

Anyone who would like to make a donation in Mike’s memory, please consider The Monastery of the Infant Jesus, 1501 Lotus Lane, Lufkin, Texas 75904 or a charity of your choice. The Monastery was close to his heart and he relied on the nuns frequently throughout his life for prayers and guidance.