Obituary of Samuel McNamara

Samuel Gray McNamara passed away unexpectedly Sunday, October 5, at the age of 74. Sam was born March 8, 1940 in Danville, KY and was preceded in death by his parents Patrick James McNamara and Mary Gray Atkins McNamara. In 1962, Sam graduated from Centre College where he was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, captain of the golf team, and a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 1965 and was on the Law Review. Sam was the President of the Franklin County Bar Association and founded his own law practice. After retiring from personal practice, he was appointed as Franklin County Circuit Judge from 2006-07. Sam’s greatest passion, outside of his family, was the game of golf: a gift he received from his father, Pat. Sam’s gift was a tremendous influence for his son Rob’s outstanding golf career. In addition, Sam was an avid runner and participated in three Boston Marathons. Sam is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marsha Hart McNamara; son, Robert Hart McNamara (Carrie Saufley McNamara), grandchildren, Madeline Yates and Samuel Church, Charlottesville, VA; son, Patrick Gray McNamara, Frankfort; son, John Gregory McNamara (Jessica Lowry McNamara), grandchildren, Connor Patrick and Kendall Reese of Lexington, KY; daughter, Laura Leigh Haynes (William Anderson Haynes), grandchildren, Wilson Gray and Amelia Kathryn, Jacksonville, FL; and sister, Patricia McNamara Jones (Dr. John Jones), Ashland, KY. Visitation will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 311 Washington Street, Frankfort, starting at 10:00 am on Friday, October 10th. followed by the funeral service at 1:00 pm. Burial will be in the Frankfort Cemetery. Pallbearers will Brad Nolan, Bruce Brooks, David Lee, Donald Coffman, George Burgess, Harry Lee Waterfield, Larry McCabe and The Hon. Tom Wingate. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bill Curlin, Bryan Hix, Charlie Jones, Dusty Rhodes, Edwin B. Tutt, Jim Clouse, Jim Decker, Marvin Coles, Dr. O.M. Patrick, Ron Durham, Russell Cotton and Donald Dell. Arrangements are under the direction of Rogers Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 15120, Chicago, IL 60693 or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.