Cypress Sun Posted January 2 Posted January 2 (edited) It is with a very heavy heart as I report to that my Dad, Cypress Sam, passed away this morning at home. Sam was a constant fixture in SASS of Florida and beyond. He helped many people get into SASS, including myself. He also helped many, many folks with their firearms over the years. He was always prepared to deliver a helping hand wherever needed and a great source of wisdom on all things related to SASS, firearms and life He was a gamer and proud of it but always played the game by the rules. He had a quick wit and always had a sort of demented sense of humor that some people got, some didn't. Although his health had declined and match participation had dwindled, he always loved shooting SASS and other shooting sports. He was well respected and loved by most all that knew and shot with him. He was my Dad, my mentor, my hero and my friend. I will miss him terribly. When service arrangements are finalized, I will post them here on this thread. Cypress Sun ****Service arrangements as follows**** There will be a Celebration of Life followed by reception andrefreshments at the Kissimmee Christian Church located at 415 N. Main St. Kissimmee, Fl., 34744 on this Saturday 1/10/2026 at 11:00 am. Cowboy attire is encouraged but casual wear if fine also. I know there's a match that weekend but there will only be one chance to say goodbye and honor Cypress Sam. There will be a private family viewing and service at a later date. Edited January 6 by Cypress Sun 1 25 Quote
Eyesa Horg Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Our hearts go out to you Sun. 🙏Prayers up for your family and friends🙏 Our sincerest condolences, Eyesa & Ellie 2 Quote
Krazy Kajun Posted January 2 Posted January 2 He was a great cowboy and a constant contributor to all in this game. There's a big hole in FL right now. Prayers up for all concerned. 🙏 Kaun 1 Quote
Rye Miles #13621 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Prayers up for you and your family. May he RIP 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 1 Quote
Griff Posted January 2 Posted January 2 I'm sure none of us will suffer his loss as deeply as you & your family, and although I can't recall meeting him specifically, communicating with him over the Wire will be missed. Y'all have our condolences. What Lumpy said! 1 Quote
Stump Water Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Sorry to hear this Sun. You have our condolences. 1 Quote
Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L Posted January 2 Posted January 2 I got to meet your Dad when I shot a match in 2014 with the Weewhootee Vigilance Committe during a business trip to Florida. Also got to shoot a match with the Okeechobee Marshals during the same trip. Sorry for you loss. Remember the good times, he will always be with you! Scout 1 Quote
Dogmeat Dad, SASS #48563L Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Our hearts break for you Sun. He was one of a kind, and a great one at that. I spoke with him many times over the years as I was learning how to shoot gunfighter, and he was always willing to share his wisdom and experience. Not all of it was SAFE mind you, , but that was Cypress Sam. He will surely be missed by all who had the opportunity to know him. Prayers Up for you and all of your family. Dogmeat & Holli 1 Quote
Colonel Dan, SASS #24025 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Very sorry to hear this news. Sam was a true SASS cowboy in every sense of the word. Shot with him since the late 1990s. Always fun and much respected by all. Always willing to share his considerable expertise with anyone who needed help. Sam will be sorely missed by everyone he met. Condolences and prayers…. Rest in Peace my friend. Colonel Dan 1 Quote
Sheriff Dill Posted January 2 Posted January 2 So sorry for your loss. Our condolences are with you, your family and anyone that your father blessed. 1 Quote
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Sorry for your loss. Condolences to you and family. 1 Quote
Santa Fe River Stan,36999L Posted January 2 Posted January 2 (edited) Cypress Sam is no doubt one of my heroes. The first time I ever shot a cowboy gun was at Ft White after the match and the guns belonged to Cypress Sam. His family will be in our thoughts and prayers. I have and will continue to miss shooting with him. I'm glad I got to speak with him a few weeks back. On his behalf, I will start "looking for an honest advantage".......If he could hear that he would laugh for sure and then tell me that if I could only shoot my shotgun like Arcadia Outlaw I would be a pretty good shooter.....LOL Damn fine Cowboy and he will be missed...... Stan Edited January 2 by Santa Fe River Stan,36999L 3 Quote
Billy Boots, # 20282 LTG-Regulator Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Sad news indeed. Prayers for God's comfort to you, Cypress Sun, other family members, and the many friends who feel this loss.. 1 Quote
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Like Stan stated, he was one of my heroes also. To say he was a fine cowboy would be underscoring his character and contributions to the game and especially to many of us individually. He was, without a doubt, my first GF hero. And when I finally met him down in Florida, I wasn't disappointed in his friendliness and personality. Just a decent man who made me feel like I was an old friend. Many of the Wire pards may not know, but Cypress Sam was also the first GF to set the Cowboy World Record in GF speed shooting. An inspiration to many of us. No doubt, he will be missed. My condolences to you, Son, and his family and many close friends. ..........Widder 1 Quote
Scarlett Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Cypress Sam was such a love! Always smiling and happy to be a cowboy! I'm so glad that I had the honor of knowing him. Wish I had known him longer and better. Sending love and prayers to all who grieve. Love and hugs, Scarlett 1 1 Quote
Blackwater 53393 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 DAMN!! Just…. damn! I always enjoyed his contributions here and I am truly sorry to get this news! I wish that you and your family can find peace in knowing that he was well liked and respected and will be missed by us all! I hope that the joy in his memory soon replaces you hurt and feeling of loss! We offer our prayers, Balckwater, Schoolmarm, and Hatfield 1 Quote
Yul Lose Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Sorry to hear this. I never met him but I heard a lot about him and it was all good. R.I.P. Cypress Sam. Quote
Waimea Posted January 2 Posted January 2 So sorry for your loss, Sun. I know what Sam meant to you. He was a good man. Waimea (Can I tell my Sam stories now? I got a bunch.) 1 Quote
Cypress Sun Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 2 hours ago, Santa Fe River Stan,36999L said: Cypress Sam is no doubt one of my heroes. The first time I ever shot a cowboy gun was at Ft White after the match and the guns belonged to Cypress Sam. His family will be in our thoughts and prayers. I have and will continue to miss shooting with him. I'm glad I got to speak with him a few weeks back. On his behalf, I will start "looking for an honest advantage".......If he could hear that he would laugh for sure and then tell me that if I could only shoot my shotgun like Arcadia Outlaw I would be a pretty good shooter.....LOL Damn fine Cowboy and he will be missed...... Stan Some good times! One of the funniest things I ever witnessed in SASS or anywhere else was Sam trying to kick the door at Eustis. All he had to do was reach down and turn the knob to open....but noooo. Santa Fe River Stan in his best Yosemite Sam voice "Ooh, I hates doorknobs". 1 2 Quote
Cypress Sun Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 6 minutes ago, Waimea said: So sorry for your loss, Sun. I know what Sam meant to you. He was a good man. Waimea (Can I tell my Sam stories now? I got a bunch.) Go ahead, he'd love it. Some names redacted, of course Quote
Wyatt Posted January 2 Posted January 2 (edited) One of my most favorite people 💔 So many wonderful memories Edited January 2 by Wyatt 3 Quote
Silver Creek Jack Posted January 2 Posted January 2 So sorry for your loss, prayers for you and your family. 1 Quote
Cypress Sun Posted January 2 Author Posted January 2 (edited) At the time of this video. he was only 81 years old. Edited January 3 by Cypress Sun 3 2 Quote
Waimea Posted January 2 Posted January 2 (edited) 1 hour ago, Cypress Sun said: Go ahead, he'd love it. Some names redacted, of course Ok, you asked for it. The Beginning The first match I went to to watch was The Last Stand in Orlando. Lots of people, plenty to take in but by nature I'm shy so I didn't talk to many people. I left with the idea I would go to the next local match near me. That happened to be to T&R Ranch. I stood around for no more than 2 minutes before Cypress Sam and Sun were both there welcoming me, asking if I had guns yet, offering me theirs and giving me advice. Fortunately I listened and bought Rugers instead of Taurus Gauchos, which is what I was looking at. The Hat Money was kinda tight in the beginning. This was my first real hobby that I ever threw myself into. Guns were eating up 99% of my hobby money so wardrobe was on the back burner. But that Christmas my wife bought me a "cowboy" hat. Kind of an Australian hat. Problem was it had mesh sides and that offended Cypress Sam. 🤣 He let me know it wasn't REALLY a cowboy hat. I tried to ignore his chides but Sam was NOT to be ignored. Finally I said "Fine, I won't wear a hat then." And for about six months I went hatless. Of course then EVERYONE chimed in about not wearing a hat. Haha. My Rifle Parts wear out and when they do bad things happen. I had been struggling with the hammer on my rifle following the bolt for some time. It got so bad that every other lever I would have to cock the hammer. It was really frustrating. I was on Sam's posse in Ruskin and he saw I was having problems so he asked if he could look at it. 10 seconds later he hands it back and said "it's the sear." I had NEVER worked on my guns before so that was like speaking Russian to me. He said that there was a gunsmith I could leave it with. I told him money was tight, he said he would look at it. Next match he brought it back. He did "some machining" on it. It might not last, but in the end it did last. How much do I owe you? Sam said, "Buy me a beer sometime." That was Cypress Sam. There are many more stories and I will cherish each one of my memories of him. Edited January 2 by Waimea 4 Quote
Turkey Creek Red, SASS # 22854 Posted January 2 Posted January 2 Night Train Kate and I are heartbroken over the loss of a true SASS Legend. He taught us how to shoot straight, be respectful of the sport, and to always uphold the "cowboy way". He was one of the first mentors we had when we entered the game, and the gifts he has given us over the years cannot be measured. All our deepest love, respect and condolences to the family. 1 Quote
Preacherman Posted January 2 Posted January 2 I am heartbroken! My gunfighter hero and friend. We competed and laughed a lot. He never would shoot age GF categories always just Gunfighter. He hated those. I hope to see you again someday. Prayers for you and the family. 1 Quote
Frederick Jackson Turner Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Another good one gone. Sorry for your loss, CS. Be sure to cherish those we have, and make memories that will last long after they are gone. Respectfully, FJT 1 Quote
Arcadia Outlaw, SASS 71385 Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Cypress Sam, so many good times ! The T&R (Howey in the Hills Cowboys) practices and BS sessions, some of the best times out there ! At T&R Sam set the World Record for single shot shotgun, and I think it was mentioned he set the first gunfighter world record, we had a lot of fun with that. At the T&R practices he used to bring an over ripe banana for a snack, it bothered/disgusted one of the guys so each time the bananas got worse lol. We shot a lot of matches & practiced together over the years(since 05) and usually shot on the same posse, always fun watching him shoot & game a stage, always within the rules though, in fact he carried a copy of the rules in his guncart. One of the funniest stories is when Sam really got Santa Fe River Stan good one day at lunch with the “shooting the shotgun like Arcadia Outlaw(me), it made Stan so mad and we laughed so hard about that, then Stan found it funny later that Sam got him riled so good. We laughed about that one for a long time. When Sam became Match Director at WVC I don’t think I’ve ever run so much or so far between shooting positions and he had to be in his mid 70’s at the time. He also wrote all these stage instructions so there was no way people could get a Procedural instead it confused a lot of folks and caused more P’s lol. Sam did not like to be touched and that caused some really funny incidents ! Lots of great memories, AO & MH 1 Quote
doc roy l. pain Posted January 3 Posted January 3 Our deepest sympathies and condolences. Doc and Pinky. 1 Quote
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