Sam Woody Acola

Sam Woody Acola, 92, of Arlington went to be with our Lord Sunday, December 13, 2020.

Graveside Service is 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2000. Visitation is 11 a.m.-noon before service at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

Sam was born August 2, 1928 to Sam and Marian (Woody) Acola in Ft.Worth, Texas. He was united in marriage February 13, 1992 to Betty Lou Blackston in Ft.Worth, Texas. As a young man, Sam attended Texas Christian University and graduated 1950 and later, the Ranch Management School, where he gave a scholarship in honor of his parents Marian and Sam Acola. He was proud of his fifth generation ranching Wise County roots and Ft.Worth family heritage. He often told stories of the early settlers passed through the years. Sam gifted the Decatur Museum with the family Log Cabin. He was active in the Deep Creek Cemetery.

One of his favorite stories was of his early settler great grandfather Sam Woody stuffing the ballot box in Ft.Worth. Woody was one of the first to live as a pioneer in Indian country of not yet Wise County. The story was shared in a 1987 Star-Telegram article and will be read at the Celebration of Life.

After TCU, he joined the officer training USAF and completed his atomic weaponry duties as First Lieutenant. He was a landscape architect for Baker Bros. Nursery and worked with real estate development, and he held a TREC Brokers license for many years. He was a member of Sons Of American Revolution.

Sam was an active and supportive member of the Tarrant and Wise County community. He greeted everyone with a smile and respect. He was a proud member of Texas Cattle Raisers Association, Rotary International and Mason. Sam served as Commodore of the Power Squadron for Texas and Louisiana.

Maxine believes he was the best Dad and Granpa in the world to “his girls”. He exemplified a gold standard heart and dry humor wit. He held fast to his rock solid wisdom.

Bonnie wrote on Instagram

“Granpa, was a 5th generation Texan, a chemist and a true rancher. He said they to pretty much anything he didn’t agree with and had big chunky cheeks with Santa Claus like beard I always squeezed”.

Stephanie remembered her last face to face conversation with him at Thanksgiving. “Granpa, what’s your favorite color?” A surprised look on his face. “Purple. TCU “a color is purple. “Sam said. “Granpa, what’s your favorite food?” “steak and lemon chess pie.” “what’s your favorite drink?” “Scotch. But when I get out of the hospital we are going to have Dom Perignon Champagne.” “Granpa you are so funny. I love you.” “We all love and miss you Granpa and we will cherish your time in our lives on earth and in the spirit of our hearts, minds and souls. You lived a good life and we are grateful. We will see you in heaven one day.” Love, your girls.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife, Betty Acola of Arlington; his daughter, Maxine Acola of Aledo; his 2 grandchildren, Bonnie Kathryn Turtur Pavese, and husband Pino of Manhattan, New York and Stephanie Louise Turtur of Houston; his sister, Carolyn Acola Phelps and husband Richard of Conroe; his nephew, Gary Phelps of Phoenix, Arizona; extended family and a host of friends.