Samuel Henry Nay, Iii

Samuel Henry Nay III passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at home, surrounded by his loving family. There will be a visitation at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home Friday, July 1 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a funeral at First Methodist Waco on Saturday, July 2 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Sam was born May 29, 1946, in San Antonio, Texas, to Samuel Henry Nay, Jr., and Marge Bell Poston. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School, San Antonio, in 1964 before graduating from Southwest Texas University with a degree in marketing in 1969. Sam and Molly met in the seventh grade when Molly asked him to the “backwards” dance. As they say, the rest is history, and on May 27, 1967, he married his junior high sweetheart, Molly Kay Polaski. They recently celebrated their 55th anniversary. In 1964 Sam went to The University of Houston, where his passion for flying began. Just a few years later, he joined the Air Force Reserve. He was in the Reserves from 1966 to 1972. Sam and Molly moved to Waco in 1971 for Sam to join his father in the automobile business, at Waco Dodge Sales. He was a Dodge and Hyundai dealer in Waco for 39 years before retiring in 2015. In 1972 Sam and Molly welcomed their first child, Holly. They celebrated the birth of their son, Heath in 1975. Sam was a pillar of the Waco community and was involved in numerous organizations over the years. He served at his church, First Methodist Waco, as a Lay Leader, Chairman of the PSPC, member of the finance committee, and as an usher for many years. Sam and Molly were founding members of the Maranatha Sunday School class, which celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. He was a member of the Waco Founders Lion Club for over 45 years, on the board of directors for the Texas Automobile Dealers Association, a member of the Texas National Bank Board of Directors, and a Community Cancer Association board member. Sam was always a fan of adventures. His cancer diagnosis, almost 26 years ago, changed his outlook on life. From that time on, Sam lived his life to the fullest and fulfilled a plethora of items on his bucket list of dreams. His crowning achievement was climbing Mt. Everest twice and reaching both Base Camp and Advanced Base Camp. He also climbed Aconcagua in South America, Kilimanjaro in Africa, and numerous other mountains. Sam and Molly loved to travel. He most enjoyed planning trips for his many friends on his yellow legal pad! They thoroughly enjoyed their time in Africa, Italy, France, Australia, and New Zealand. Sam had a passion for so many things in life. His first love was flying, and he especially enjoyed flying his plane to one of his favorite places in the world - Crested Butte, Colorado. He treasured the time he spent studying the Bible, quizzing Pastor Ryan about the Bible, hunting and fly fishing with his son Heath and grandson Hunter, and friends Eddie, Don, Charlie, and Jerry, hiking, and skiing with his grandchildren near his home in Colorado, mentoring fellow cancer patients, playing tennis, scuba diving, and driving his ’62 red Corvette. As many of his friends have recently noted, Sam will long be remembered for his infections smile and positive attitude. Sam was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Henry Nay, Jr.; mother, Marge Bell Poston Nay; and sister, Marcia Elizabeth Nay. Sam is survived by his wife, Molly K. Nay; his daughter, Holly Dunham and husband, Mike, of Waco; his son, Samuel Heath Nay and wife, Heather, of Little Rock, Arkansas; his beloved grandchildren, Hannah Nicole Dunham Place and husband, Austin, Samuel Harrison Dunham and wife, Hannah, Lauren Audrey Dunham, Landry Grant Dunham, Samuel Hunter Nay, Madysen Kiker Nay; great-grandchild, Callen Scott Place; nephew, Mike McGee and wife, Kay; brother-in-law, Richard Polaski and wife, Barbara; and many, many dear friends. Pallbearers will be Heath Nay, Harrison Dunham, Hunter Nay, Landry Dunham, Mike McGee, Mike Dunham, Rob White, and Austin Place. Honorary pallbearers include Bill Koziol, Don Lewis, Chip Massey, Eddie Morrison, Mark Reynolds, Charlie Shoultz, Jack Stewart, Robert Stoval. We would like to share a special thank you to the caregivers who provided such gentle and loving care during his final days. Specifically, Mark Walsh, Jody Lee and Sharon Gordon from Bluebonnet Hospice and Janice Turner and Alberta Patterson from Visiting Angels as well as Simon, Daniella, and Mario. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: First Methodist Church Waco, 4901 Cobbs Dr. Waco, TX 76710; or to: Community Cancer Association, 2911 Herring Ave #212 Waco, TX 76708 Paradise Place Preschool, Union Congregational Church, P.O. Box 726 Crested Butte, CO 81224.