Samuel E. Stallings

Samuel Eugene Stallings, 88, passed away on December 10, 2025, at the Garden Terrace Overland Park nursing home in Overland Park, Kansas. He was born on December 17, 1936, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Theodore Stallings and Juanita Barnes Stallings.

Sam grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, where he attended Sumner High School. After high school, he joined the Air Force in 1954 and served for 4 years. He had achieved the rank of Airman Second Class upon his discharge.

Sam was a man with big ideas, big dreams and a big smile. People loved to be around him. He worked for United Cab and later started the first all-black cab company in Minnesota that became very successful. He also worked as a truck driver for Consolidated Freightways and Yellow Freight, but also had his own trucking company called Seattle Trucking Company. He owned a successful bar called The Stallings Lounge in Kansas City, Kansas.

Sam married Irene May in 1958 in Kanas City, Kansas. They were married for 6 years. Sam was a member of the Freemason organization. However, his passion was baseball. He played on sponsored teams for many years. Sam was such a good ball player that he helped his team win several trophies. He had numerous trophies from winning bowling tournaments as well.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Juanita Stallings, his sister Louise Oliver, his son Samuel E. Stallings, Jr., and great-grandchildren, Charles Lewis and twins, Santino and Savannah Branson.

Sam is survived by his children, Terry Copperfield (Sioux Falls, SD), Janice McElroy (West St. Paul, MN), Leonard Stallings (Kansas City, KS), Joette Branson (St. Paul, MN), Jamie Branson (Minneapolis, MN), sisters Shirley Stallings (Kansas City, KS), Lovie Parson (Kansas City, KS), grandchildren Forest, Mario, Jason, June, Salina, Elijah, Ashley, and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A viewing will be held from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 A.M. on December 22, 2025, at Thatcher’s Funeral Home on 1520 North 5th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101. The family will greet friends and relatives at that time, and burial will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery at 150 Muncie Rd, Leavenworth, KS 66048 at 1:30.

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