Family members say Gene Sampson of Chickasha was burning brush right before he died. No one knows for sure what happened, but family members believe it was nothing more than a tragic accident. Investigators are not so sure.CHICKASHA, Oklahoma -
The Grady County
Sheriff's Office is investigating what deputies are calling a suspicious death
after a man died not far from his home.
Family members say
Gene Sampson of Chickasha was burning brush right before he died. No one knows
for sure what happened, but family members believe it was nothing more than a
tragic accident. Investigators are not so sure.
At the Sampson
home Thursday, friends and neighbors provided comfort to a grieving family as
widow Dorothy Sampson recalled nearly 62 years of memories.
"It just goes to
show that we need to be prepared to meet the Lord," Dorothy Sampson said.
10/4/12 Related Story: Man Burns To Death While Burning Trash In Grady County
Deputies say Gene
was found with trauma on his body. Family members say he was found burnt with a
gash on his head.
"He was burned
pretty badly," Dorothy said "He tripped, I think, and fell over a log … He was
thankful for the burn ban to be lifted. He was doing what he liked to do."
The Grady County
Sheriff's Office wants to know if foul play was involved. Although, family
members say they are confident the investigation is nothing more than standard
procedure. In the meantime, the family is not focusing on Gene's death but
rather the memories of someone they call a good Christian man.
"We had a blessed
life," Dorothy said. "God gave us a good life together. We're just so thankful
for so many blessings over the years."
Gene Sampson was
83 years old. His funeral service will be at the Calvary Baptist Church in
Chickasha at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2012.
The Grady County Sheriff's Office is waiting for the Medical
Examiner to determine a cause of death.
