Paul (Sutt) Samuels

11/8/1938 — 11/16/2014

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Paul Louis (Sutt) Samuels, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, passed away with his family by his side Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014. He was 76 years old.

Paul was born Nov. 8, 1938, in the first brick house in Kamiah, the seventh child of Joseph and Pauline Corbett Samuels.

Paul spent his early years in Ahsahka, attending elementary school and spending many hours fishing with his friends and brother Amos. It was then that Paul inherited the nickname, Sutt, which stayed with him the rest of his life. Sutt graduated from Orofino High school in 1957, playing football, basketball and baseball. He enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1961 and completed a tour of duty in France, where he got to travel much of the country.

Sutt married Verna Arthur in 1961, and they had two children, "the boys," Steve and Lorin. They later divorced. He then met Jerri Byers in 1974 and they later married and made their home in Sweetwater until the time of his death.

Sutt belonged to the Carpenters Union and helped build the original Kibbie Dome in Moscow. He was an avid Vandals supporter, attending football games over the years. Later in life, Sutt worked for the Nez Perce Tribal Housing Authority, building many of the houses on the reservation. He was a hard worker and retired in 2012 at the age of 74.

Sutt loved hunting and fishing. He went on many annual Mackay Bar steelhead fishing trips. Just this spring, he went fishing with grandkids and spent several hours trying to catch a fish on a rainy afternoon. After a couple hours with his pole, he switched to his fly rod, caught one fish, and then packed up and went home. He was not about to end any fishing day empty-handed.

Sutt enjoyed gardening and working in his yard, building birdhouses and feeding the birds. He could be found at almost any sporting event where family and friends were playing. The family considered him their "go-to guy" for any problem around the house. He built, rebuilt and remodeled many parts of his sisters' homes. He would frequently call to check on them and see if they needed anything. Sutt was a lifelong member of First Church of Kamiah and an active member of the annual Talmaks Camp meeting.

Sutt was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Charlotte (Bunky) Radon and Joanne Jose; daughter-in-law Denise Samuels; and stepdaughter Pamela Haislip.

Sutt is survived by his wife, Jerri Samuels of Sweetwater; sons Steve (Lisa) Samuels and Lorin (De'Ane) Samuels of Lewiston; stepdaughter Shelli (Bill) Giles of Visalia, Calif.; and stepson Tom (Judy) Hobson of Lewiston. His grandchildren are Nick (Melissa) Samuels of Troy and Chelsie, Seth and Lily Samuels of Lewiston; and great-grandchild Kenley Samuels of Troy. He has 10 stepgrandchildren and many stepgreat-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Essie Carter of Lewiston, Phyllis Penney of Kamiah, Robert (Amos) Samuels of Warm Springs, Ore., Lois (Maudie) Oatman of Kamiah and Loretta Sobotta of Lapwai. Sutt was loved by many nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and his beloved dog, Tipper. He will be missed.

Services will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Pi Nee Waus Community Center in Lapwai and at 10 a.m. Friday at First Church in Kamiah. A covered-dish dinner will follow Friday's service.

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