GUNTOWN - Austin Carruthers "Carr" Sams, 55, passed away peacefully at his home in Guntown, MS, on April 16, 2019. He was a member of First Christian Church, Baldwyn, MS, and a strong and steady spiritual leader of his family. Carr was a friend to many; and once you met Carr Sams, you never forgot his infectious smile or his kind spirit.

Carr was a graduate of Tupelo High School and attended Mississippi State University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Carr probably attended more Ole Miss football games than he did classes at State (one of his best kept secrets), and even later redeemed himself by attending Ole Miss, salvaging his Rebel reputation.

Carr was devoted to his Tri-State Truck Center family where he worked for 15 years. He also co-owned Fairpark Mortgage for eight years with his friend and business partner, Rick Stevenson.

Carr was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, and grandfather. He loved his family deeply and enjoyed nothing more than a family weekend trip to Pickwick which always included his wife, Jane, and their menagerie of four-legged fur babies.

Carr is survived by his wife, Jane Mattox Sams, of Guntown; his daughters, Austin (Logan) Blinson and Anne Daniel Sams of Tupelo; and his parents, L. F. "Sandy" Sams and Mary Helen "Mungy" Sams of Eggville.  Other survivors include his brother, Dr. Lee (Kathryn) Sams of Jackson, MS; sisters Christie (Jason) Rees of Knoxville, TN, and Margaret (Michael) Gratz of Tupelo; grandchildren Grey Blinson and Brantley Brazil, as well as many nieces and nephews that he dearly loved and who adored him.

Pallbearers will be Rick Stevenson and members of the Tupelo Elvis Festival "Blue Team," namely Russell Conerly, Jare' Sutton, John Pannell, Greg Bost, and Mark Young. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Beane and Gerald Powell.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Sanctuary Hospice House, Tupelo, MS.

Visitation will be held at First Christian Church at 996 South 4 ^th Street, Baldwyn, MS, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 20, 2019, followed by a brief service.  The service will be officiated by Bro. Terry Rhodes and Bro. Kelly Carmichael.  McNeece-Morris Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.