Sam Cushing Obituary, Death: California Resident Chester Samuel “Sam” Cushing III Dies Peacefully at 89
Born March 22, 1936, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sam was the son of Chester Samuel Cushing II and Lela Birdie Cutler Cushing. He spent his early years in Salem, Oregon, where he grew up and developed the quiet, sincere and family-centered qualities remembered by those closest to him.
A Life of Service and Dedication
After high school, Sam attended Brigham Young University for a year before enlisting in the United States Army. During his military service, he was stationed in La Cañada, California, where he served at a Nike Air Missile base.
Following his time in the military, Sam established a long career in California’s public utility sector. He began with the Turlock Irrigation District as a ditch tender before progressing to work as a lineman and eventually a dispatcher.
He later joined the Modesto Irrigation District, where he continued working as a dispatcher until his retirement. His professional life was marked by many years of dependable work and service.
Writing and Love of the Outdoors
Outside of work, Sam enjoyed reading and writing and took particular pride in having his work published several times in Sporting Classics Magazine.
He also found enjoyment in fishing, hiking in Pinecrest, walking along the canal and caring for his yard. His dedication to maintaining his lawn was well known, with his obituary recalling his preference for using a push mower.
Family and friends remembered Sam as soft-spoken and sincere, with a gentle sense of humor and a tendency to speak thoughtfully from the heart.
Family and Faith
Faith was an important part of Sam’s life. He was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and, during his younger years, was involved with his family in organizing the first branch of the Church in Salem, Oregon.
Sam shared 69 years of marriage with his wife, Dorene Barbara Sadler Cushing.
He is survived by Dorene; his children, Kym Cushing, Mark Cushing and Cheri Cushing Starkey; his sister, Lela Marie Cushing; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
His family remained at the heart of his life, and the relationships he built over nearly nine decades form an important part of the legacy he leaves behind.
Funeral and Memorial Plans
According to his published obituary, Sam requested that no funeral or memorial service be held.
His family will instead remember him through the life he shared with them, his military service, long professional career, faith, writing, love of nature and the many years spent with those closest to him.
Remembering Sam Cushing
Sam Cushing’s life was defined by quiet dedication and a strong commitment to family, work and faith.
From his childhood in Oregon and military service in California to decades working in the state’s irrigation districts, he built a life grounded in responsibility and service. His interests in writing and the outdoors provided additional sources of fulfillment throughout his years.
He will be remembered by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister, extended family and friends for his sincerity, gentle humor, love of nature and devotion to the people who mattered most to him.
Chester Samuel “Sam” Cushing III died peacefully at 89, leaving behind a lifetime of memories and a family who will continue to carry his memory forward.
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