Sammy Dean Withiam was born on April 26, 1938 in McPherson, Kansas. His father, Kenneth Forrest Withiam, was a pipeline and refinery welder who moved Sam, Sam’s sister, Phyllis, and Sam’s mother, Dorothy Helen (Embers) Withiam, whenever and wherever his job required. In 1942, Kenny was working for Shell Oil Company in Cushing, Oklahoma, when Dorothy said that she’d had enough of traveling. So Kenny bought a home at 614 East Maple Street and made Cushing their home.
Dorothy enrolled Sam in a Catholic elementary school in Cushing. The Catholic school taught all grades in one classroom, so Sam learned his own class lessons as well as that of the upper grades. The school took notice, and Sam was promoted to a higher grade. Sam then attended Cushing High School, where he competed in debate and drama. He was president of his debate team and served as youth pastor at the First Baptist Church of Cushing. He also played trombone in the band and served as drum major his senior year. He was also a DeMolay and was awarded the title of Chevalier, which is the organization’s highest honor. Sam graduated from Cushing High School in the class of 1955. Sam attended OSU and OU School of Law on a combined degree program and graduated from both universities in 1961. He passed the bar exam that same year, and at the age of 23 became the youngest practicing attorney at the time. During his 60+ years of practicing law, Sam served as Assistant Payne County Attorney, and then moved into a diversified law practice. He was one of the first attorneys in modern times to represent native American tribes and was instrumental in establishing tribal sovereignty and early tribal courts in Oklahoma. Sam also established Mid-Continent Oil Company, which drilled successful wells in the Three Sands area of Oklahoma.
In 1957, Sam married and soon had two children, Samuel Douglas Withiam and LuAnn Withiam. He established a very successful law practice in Cushing and built a beautiful home between Cushing and Drumright that he named Sleepy Hollow. Soon after completion, Sleepy Hollow was destroyed by fire, and Sam then bought and constructed his current home and ranching operation at Timberline Ranch. He was proud of his father, Kenny, who built the pipe fences and other improvements for the ranch. Sam also raised and trained race horses at the ranch. Several of his horses went on to have successful careers on the racing circuit.
In 1982, Sam met the love of his life, Sharrie Doshier. Native American tribes had previously paid Sam’s legal fees with buffalo and elk, and from these first animals, Sam and Sharrie developed a breeding program at Timberline Ranch which grew into the largest domestic elk herd in the United States. Sam was one of the founders and president of the North American Elk Breeders Association. He and Sharrie won many awards for their outstanding elk, including the Premier Breeding Farm Award 5 years in a row and the title of Mr. and Mrs. Elk USA.
On a local level, Sam was a Master Mason and member of the Cushing Masonic Lodge. He served as a DeMolay sponser for the local DeMolay Chapter. He also proudly hosted a yearly class reunion for his Class of ‘55 for 27 years, only missing one year during the pandemic. And throughout his law practice, he treated his clients as his friends and his friends as family. Sam is survived by his wife, Sharrie Doshier-Withiam of the home, son Doug Withiam and wife Becky of Cushing, Oklahoma, daughter LuAnn Withiam of Lincoln County, Oklahoma, grandson Samuel Bryan Withiam and great-grandaughter Romy Withiam of Cushing, granddaughter Kimberly Withiam-Carlson and husband David Carlson and great-grandsons Simon and Wesley of Oklahoma City, granddaughter Samantha Ceron and husband Dave Ceron and greatgrandsons Jack and Camden of Waddell, Arizona, granddaughter Kara Reherman and partner Jonathon Ward of Glendale, Arizona, and sister Phyllis Gondring and husband Dr. Bill Gondring of Kihei, Hawaii, aunt Barbara Withiam of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and three nieces, cousins, and other family members. He was predeceased by his parents and father and mother in law, Gene and Norma Doshier. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing. The family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at Timberline Ranch Auditorium, 760750 S. 3500 Road Cushing, Oklahoma 74023 with Pastor Bill Allton officiating. Interment will follow at Fairlawn Cemetery.
