Retha Ann Stearns

Our family is saying goodbye to Retha “Sam” Stearns, who passed on November 10, 2026. She leaves us with a lifetime of memories, plenty of love, and some great stories.

Sam was born in Lott, Texas on February 18, 1939. She attended Mary Hardin-Baylor and worked as a truck driver in the 1960s for Southeastern Exports. Many people knew Sam best as the bartender at the pro shop, where she worked from 2001 to 2013. For those who spent time there during those years, she’ll always be part of their memories of the place. Sam loved a good game of 42, reading and above all else, she was a lifelong New Orleans Saints fan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar B and Martha Yancey; with sisters, Barbara, Wanda, Linda and Kay, her brother Blake and granddaughter, Lisa Stanford.

She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Renee and Damon Means of Crane, Texas; her sons and daughters-in-law, Don and GiGi Trowbridge of Hondo, Texas, Tommie and Cindy Trowbridge of Jacksonville, Texas; and Pete Stearns, and his wife, Becky Boyd. Her daughters and sons-in-law trarns obitAltia Hollis and Edwin, of Andrews, Texas, and Virginia Evans and her husband, Lynn, of Rankin, Texas.

Her grandchildren include Randy Means, Derek Means, Nolan Box and Matthew Stearns. Her great-grandchildren include Cason, Cayden, Coda, and Cassidy Means.

We’re going to miss her. We’ll keep telling her stories, remembering the things she loved, and finding reasons to smile when we think of her. Whenever the dominoes come out or the Saints take the field, we’ll have another little reminder of Sam.