Lewis Carroll “Sam” Ijames, 77, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, in Houston.
He was born Dec. 9, 1930, in Mill Spring, son of Belvia C. Ijames and Mary Bunyard Ijames. He and Margie Lee Garren were married in 1949.
After working several years in Piedmont and two years in Greenland, he moved his family in the late 1960s to Houston, where he owned and operated Lazy L Motel for nearly 20 years. He moved to Mountain Grove in the late 1980s and established Sam’s Restaurant. He ran it until this past year.
He was a member of the Methodist Church most of his adult life. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Order of Scottish Rite for more than 50 years. He was active in politics while living in Piedmont.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Doris.
Survivors include his wife; three children, Mary Beth Burch of Houston, and Michael and Jeff Ijames of Mountain Grove; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were Sunday, Nov. 9, in Masonic Cemetery in Piedmont with the Rev. Jim Norris officiating.
