Samuel E. Root Jr.

Samuel E. Root, Jr. was born August 11, 1935 in Kansas City, Missouri and departed this life on November 30, 2016 at the Holden Manor Care Center in Holden, Missouri at the age of 81 years, 3 months and 19 days.

He was the son of Samuel E. Root, Sr. and Susan M. “Susie” (Bourland) Root.

Sam spent his younger years in Kansas City, Missouri and graduated from Manuel High School. In 1953 the Root family moved to rural Pleasant Hill to make their home and Samuel attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo. During this time he and his father raised cattle and began building, what eventually became “Root Farms”. On September 11, 1961 Samuel was united in marriage with Mary Jane Porter. After their marriage they made their home on the Root family farm. Mary Jane Root preceded Sam in death on July 5, 2006. After Mary’s death, Sam continued to live on the family farm. In addition to farming, Sam had worked as a school bus driver for the Kingsville School District, a bull dozer operator for his long time friend, Lloyd Cusick and as a security guard for ADESA in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Sam was a member of Forest Grove Baptist Church. In addition to his wife, Mary Jane Root, Sam was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Root, Sr. on May 2, 1974 and his mother, Susie Root on August 8, 1997.

He is survived by his son, Samuel E. Root, III and wife Shannon of Pleasant Hill, MO; one grandson, Samuel E. Root, IV and wife Lindsey of Kingsville, MO and one great-grandson, Samuel E. Root, V.

Funeral Service for Samuel E. Root, Jr. will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2016 at the Wallace Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill, MO. with Brother Harvey Reynolds officiating. Casket Bearers will be Mark Jinkins, Denny Kruse, Kevin Smith, Duane Burton, Jim White and David Barker.

Burial will follow in Mount Moriah Cemetery (10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131) at 12:00 noon. The family will receive friends 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 4, 2016 at the funeral home.Contributions in memory of Samuel E. Root, Jr. may be made to Holden Manor Care Center (note:  Activities) or Crossroads Hospice, and may be left at the funeral home.