October 26, 1932 – May 13, 2025
Samuel Berling Jackson was born to Samuel Clinton and Amy Virginia (Kinnicutt) Jackson, on October 26, 1932, at the Weed Hospital in Weed, California. He was raised on the Jackson Ranch in Edgewood which was founded in 1854. The oldest boy of the seven children born to the couple, Sam was the fourth Samuel Jackson on the Jackson Ranch.
Sam attended Butteville Elementary School, and then Weed High School where he graduated in 1950. After high school, Sam joined the Navy, serving four years, 1951 to 1955, on the Fleet Tugboat, USS Tawasa, including time in the Korean War. After serving his country, Sam used the GI Bill to attend Shasta College for two years and transferred to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Husbandry in 1960.
Sam married his sweetheart, Erlene Annette Ove, on September 11, 1958, at the courthouse in Yreka, followed by a reception at the Jackson Ranch. Sam and Erlene lived in San Luis Obispo while Sam attended college. After graduation from Cal Poly, Sam and Erlene returned to the Jackson Ranch where they spent the rest of their lives. They had four children: Samuel Earl (Stacey), David (Carol), Steven (Barbara) and Sheri.
Sam and Erlene loved being part of their community and always enjoyed getting together with friends and family for barbecues, playing cards, or social events. They also had a great time at dance club, hitting the floor regularly. As a couple, they looked so elegant and graceful whenever they danced—everyone loved watching them!
After college, Sam managed the Sam Jackson Ranch, dedicating his life to raising the finest beef cattle and hay. Sam was passionate about agriculture, advocating for and supporting cattle producers and the entire farming community.
He was a proud member of the Siskiyou County Cattlemen’s Association, as well as the California Cattlemen’s Association. He served on the SCCA Board of Directors, in all positions including President. Sam was a State Director of the CCA for many years. He and Erlene loved attending the CCA Convention each year. In 1995, Sam was honored to be named the Cattleman of the Year.
Sam was a member of the Siskiyou County Farm Bureau, also serving on the Board of Directors and in the capacity of President. He was the Farm Bureau’s Man of the Year in 1981.
In 1982, Sam took great pride in being appointed as a member of the Board of Directors for the Klamath Production Credit Association (PCA), now known as Northwest Farm Credit, helping many people with agricultural financing for over 25 years. He and Erlene would travel to meetings and trainings for the PCA, enjoying meeting new people and making friends all over Washington, Oregon, and California.
Sam was a board member of the Siskiyou Water Users Association, working hard to preserve water rights for agriculture. Sam was an advisory member for Ag Preserve for the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, a 4H Leader, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the National Rifle Association, and a lifetime member of the Cal Poly Alumni Association.
His friends, Frank and John Gorgi, introduced him to the Santa Maria Style Barbecue which became a lifelong passion. He built his own barbecue trailer and for years was well known for barbecuing beef at numerous events including brandings, ag fundraisers, annual Farm Bureau and Cattlemen’s events, and family gatherings. And don’t put any chicken on his barbecue!
Sam loved his wife and family, hosting many holiday events and gatherings. He and Erlene had ten grandchildren: Tyler, Megan, Ashley, Chelsea, Brittney, Heather, Ryan, Samuel Clayton, Colton, and Lacey, and eight great grandchildren. Sam lived long enough to meet the seventh Samuel Jackson, Samuel James, born on March 29, 2025. Sam passed away unexpectedly after an injury and brief illness, on May 13, 2025. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
A family graveside service will be held on June 7, 2025, at 11:00 am, followed by a memorial and celebration of life at the Montague Community Hall, with lunch served at approximately 1:30 pm. The Siskiyou County Cattlemen will be barbecuing beef in Sam’s honor along with a potluck lunch. Please bring a side, salad, or dessert to share.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to the Siskiyou County Cattlemen’s Association for the Samuel B. Jackson Agricultural Scholarship, created to support the agricultural education of youth from Siskiyou County.
sourced- Girdner Funeral Chapel
