On October 30 th, 2023, Dan T. Sample passed away peacefully at his home in Cusick,
Washington surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Spokane, Washington on
December 29, 1944 to Cleve and Audney Sample and brought home to the family
homestead in Cusick, Washington. As a boy, he could be found running the tops of log
floats on the river.
He graduated from Cusick High School in 1963. After high school, he worked for Silver
Creek Mill pulling green chain. From there, he worked construction and ended up
finding his love of logging. He was a logger for most of his working life, and even owned
his own company, Dan T. Sample Logging.
To say that Dan was an avid hunter and angler would be a vast understatement. The
bumpersticker on his trusty F-250 reads "I've hunted almost every day of my life…the
rest were wasted". Fishing was another passion of his, with most area lakes knowing
his efforts. Those in the boat with him knew that a legal limit ensured a ride home.
He was the best "Dog Dad" most have ever known. He could often be seen driving
around with several "Blonds" in the front seat with him. Some are sure that the dogs
were treated better than the wives. They were his trusted companions, and thoroughly
enjoyed their "Work" as retrievers during duck and goose season.
Dan had a lifelong love of horseracing as well. He owned several race horses with his
brother Joe. Playfair was a favorite, and there were trips to Golden Gate, Longview,
Emerald Downs and north to Canadian tracks too.
During his retirement he spent lots of time with family. He loved to hunt, fish, drive
around and look for animals, cruising in his Ranger or just hanging out around his
property with his family.
Many days were spent working on his unending lists of things that needed attending to.
Meticulous maintenance was the mantra of his homestead.
Starting a conversation was easy with him, just ask about wolves, cougars, or wildfires
and he could rail on for hours. Unless there was a football game on, then the
conversation had to stop.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Cleve and Audney Sample, and his brothers
David Sample and Nevada Sample. He is survived by his brother Joe Sample and
wife Lola of Mead, his daughters Tammie Sample of Spokane, Cheryl Sample-Reese and
husband Gary of Cusick, and Becky Walrath and husband Ray of Usk, Grandchildren
Christopher McCoy and wife Monique of Deer Park, K'Leigh Trickler and husband JD of
Spokane, Briana Nenema-Ward and husband Jimmy of Cusick, Ryan Sample of Cusick,
Jaxson Walrath of Vancouver, Andrew Walrath of Philadelphia, Madison McCoy of
Spokane, Sophie McCoy of Spokane and Talon McCoy of Deer Park. He is also survived

by numerous great grandchildren, cousins, extended family and friends, and many
others that only knew him as "Grandpa Dan".

Please join us for a gathering of family and friends for a memorial service followed by a
potluck on November 11th 2023, at 11 am at the Usk Community Hall, 2442 Black Rd,
Usk, WA 99119. Please wear your favorite "hunting" or "camo" gear to honor Dan's love
of hunting and the outdoors!