Sammie was born on November 17, 1935, and grew up in Bangs, Texas. On April 27, 1956, she married the love of her life, Garner (Dooder) McClatchy. They moved in their brand-new house on the farm and lived there for 65 years. He started building the house before he asked her to marry him. She knew he was going to pop the question. That home became the favorite spot for numerous kids, nieces, nephews and grandkids. She graduated from Howard Payne with an education degree following a profession that many before and those after in her family have chosen. She spent her career as a first-grade teacher at Bangs Elementary where she touched the lives of hundreds of children and their families. Just talk to anyone who went to Bangs Elementary and the majority will say that Mrs. McClatchy was their first-grade teacher. She bribed many students with her signature Dr. Peppers.
Sammie was an amazing person. Her sense of humor and infectious laugh cheered us all. Sammie was a marvelous cook specializing in Southern comfort cuisine. She “loved” to raise a garden and kept family and friends stocked in tomatoes and squash. Everyone fought over her canned sweet pickles and beets. Her grandchildren will cherish her breakfasts of ice cream, after all it contained all food groups. However, her greatest talent for which she will be forever remembered is the kindness, generosity, and understanding she showed everyone she met.
Sammie is survived by her husband of 65 years Richard Garner “Dooder” McClatchy; her son Ricky McClatchy and his wife Janie of San Antonio; her daughter Holly Gieb and her husband Buddy of Midland; her brother Ray Findley and his wife Jean of Santa Anna, sister-in-law Barbara Findley of Bangs, brother-in-law Pat McClatchy of Brownwood, John Harper and his wife Donna of Brownwood; Kim Horton who was like a daughter to her; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Sammie joins her parents C.D. and Velma Findley; three sisters Patsy, Joy and Vicki; and one brother Donnie, a sister-in-law Lee Ann McClatchy, brother-in-law C.H. Sinclair, nephew Danny Horton in heaven where everyone who knew her is sure she is sharing Dr. Peppers and Snickers bars. We are going to miss her sweet calls and her signature sign off, “Love you more.”
The family would like to express their gratitude to the Senior Care Facility and the Hendricks Hospital in Brownwood for their care. Private family services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate in her memory to Bangs ISD scholarship fund to Bangs ISD, P. O. Box 969, Bangs, TX 76823.
