Samuel Paul Jones' Obituary
Samuel Paul Jones — known to everyone who loved him simply as Sam — passed away on March 25, 2026, at a hospital in Tampa, Florida, after a fierce battle with several health complications. He was 71 years old.
Born on September 17, 1954, in Logan, West Virginia, Sam spent much of his formative years in Flat Rock, Michigan, before planting roots in Largo, Florida — a city he would call home for nearly 47 years. It was here that he built his life, his community, and his legacy.
Sam wore many hats throughout a decades-long career in IT and business management, most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer at Incredible Tiny Homes Inc. But those who knew him well would tell you that his greatest gifts were never found on a résumé. Sam was, above all else, a man of extraordinary presence — warm, unguarded, and utterly genuine. What you saw was exactly what you got, and what you got was rare.
To spend time with Sam was to feel immediately and completely welcome. He was the kind of man who gave hugs that meant something — big, enveloping, full-hearted hugs that his friends and loved ones will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Those fortunate enough to be in his circle described him as a warm, fuzzy bear of a man — generous, joyful, and impossible not to love. He was a natural storyteller with a quick wit and a laugh that drew people in. His humour was never at anyone’s expense; it was an invitation.
Sam was deeply empathic and fiercely loyal. He did not open himself quickly, but once he did, he gave everything — and the most precious thing he gave was his time. He showed up. He listened. He stayed. In a world that so often moves too fast to truly see people, Sam had the rare and beautiful ability to make every person in his presence feel seen, known, and valued. Friends called him a ray of sunshine, and they were not wrong.
He believed in serial reciprocity — the quiet conviction that kindness given freely travels outward and returns in ways we cannot always predict. He did not preach this. He lived it, day after day, as naturally as breathing.
Nature filled Sam’s heart in equal measure. He was a devoted and gifted gardener, tending with love to his plumerias and orchids, and taking immense pride in the flourishing garden, he had made his own. He loved attending green thumb festivals, sharing that world with those around him, and his deep affection for animals — including his beloved dachshunds — was a constant and joyful thread throughout his life.
For many years, Sam served as a co-founder and president of the West Florida Growlers, a beloved social community he helped build and lead — a role that reflected his deep investment in belonging, in brotherhood, and in creating spaces where people felt truly at home. He also gave his time and heart to Project Pup in Pinellas County, a program that brings therapy dogs to healthcare facilities across the Tampa Bay area. It was, in many ways, a perfect expression of who he was: bringing comfort, presence, and unconditional warmth to those who needed it most.
Sam faced life’s harder chapters with a grounded-ness that inspired everyone around him. His outlook was captured best in two phrases those close to him heard often: “If this is the worst thing that happened today, I am having a great day,” and simply, “How can I fix this?” Both speak to the same man — optimistic, solution-oriented, and utterly unwilling to be defeated by the weight of things.
Sam Jones did not just pass through this world. He made it warmer.
He Is Survived By:
Sam is lovingly survived by his devoted spouse; and his brother; and the vast, loyal community of family & friends whose lives he shaped in ways both seen and quietly profound. He was preceded in death by his parents, Callie W. Jones and Dorothy Mae Milligan, and his long-term partner Robert O'Hearn Jr.
Those wishing to honour Sam’s memory are invited to consider supporting fellow human beings — a fitting tribute to a man who understood, perhaps better than most, the healing power of presence and love. May his memory be a blessing while we adjust to the loss: in lieu of flowers, please feed the hungry and/or care for a life.
What’s your fondest memory of Samuel?
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Share a story where Samuel's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Samuel you’ll never forget.
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