Samuel Sloan Orr, Jr., peacefully passed away on February 16, 2007, after a long illness. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Sam was 91years old. A Colorado Springs native he was born on June 22, 1915, in Pike View, a small village just north of town where the main economic activity was mining coal used to heat homes and businesses in the local area. His father was Samuel Sloan Orr who immigrated to Colorado Springs from Scotland by way of Canada. His mother was Amy Smith Orr, who migrated from England to Canada, where she met and married Sam's father. His parents brought old world values to their adopted country and his father worked at Pike View mines as a blaster until the mines closed in 1956. Sam inherited those values of hard work, honesty, and integrity as the central traits of his life. Sam attended Colorado Springs High School (now Palmer High School) where he played basketball and met a young woman, Neva Faye Woods, in his chemistry class. They were married in October of 1937 and have been loving companions through life. The Great Depression was a hard time for a young man trying to earn living to support his family. Sam briefly followed his father and other family members into the Pike View mines but also found time to earn a diploma in bookkeeping from Blair Business College. He never complained and always managed to find employment, no matter how brief or meager the wage. A proud man, he did not believe in borrowing money from others. Sam also had a strong sense of devotion to his country. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Sam joined the Navy and served aboard a minesweeper, the USS Density, in the Pacific. At the end of WW II, Sam returned to Colorado Springs. Now the father of two young children, Sam worked at several bookkeeping jobs, including Alexander Film. But he had found his calling in the military and enlisted in the Army in March 1948. He was commissioned as a Warrant Officer in 1954 while stationed in Germany. His Army career included assignments all over the world and United States until he retired in 1967. He returned to Colorado Springs and worked for about 10 years as a Federal employee in the Fort Carson finance office. When fully retired, his life work continued as he and Neva helped their daughter support two sons and raise them to adulthood. Being a surrogate father invigorated him and brought additional years of joy and satisfaction. Sam remained devoted to the community as an active member of the Shriners. He was a 32nd Degree Free Mason, Noble; an Emeritus member in the Al Kaly Temple of Honor; and an active member of Tejon Lodge 104 in Colorado Springs. He was also a member of the Colorado Chapter of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and a member of National Sojourners. For many years he participated with fellow Shriners in parades and acts of service throughout Colorado. He also was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Sam enjoyed many hobbies. He was an avid model railroader for more than 50 years and his collection delighted young family members. A passionate bowler and golfer, he enjoyed both until arthritis finally stopped him at 89. He was an original member of the Air Force Academy Men's Golf Association and last year enjoyed participating in a tournament named in his honor. He also loved to garden and raised flowers that garnered several awards over the years at the Colorado State Fair. In addition, he and his wife maintained relationships with his shipmates from the WWII minesweeper, USS Density. They gathered every other year in a different city around the country. Sam and Neva organized and hosted reunions in Colorado Springs on several occasions. Sam is survived by his wife Neva; a son Raymond Orr of Albuquerque; two grandsons, Keith Wrede of Colorado Springs and Douglas Wrede of Richmond, Va.; two granddaughters, Heather Lamar of Larkspur, Co., and Emily Orr of Colorado Springs; and two great grandchildren. His daughter, Lynn Orr Wrede predeceased him. He will be missed by all of his family and friends. But his spirit will live on in our hearts and his accurately detailed historical stories will reside in our memories.