Samuel Melvin Dupreast

March 6, 1935 - August 16, 2018

On Tuesday, August 14th, 2018, Samuel Melvin Dupreast, passed away peacefully at aged 83 years. Sam was born on March 6th, 1935, at the family home in DeRidder, Louisiana, to Melvin Charles and Sammie Edail Dupreast. Sam spent his career as a helicopter mechanic in the United States Army, and owned several businesses over the course of his “retirement”. He was married to Barbara Ann Magness on July 11th, 1964. They raised two children, Pamela Renee and Samuel Richard. Sam had a passion for mechanics. He was a gifted auto mechanic and collector of modern and antique tools. He also was an avid collector of rare firearms and military memorabilia. Sam was, foremost, a patriot and servant of his country and community. He was best known for his no-nonsense approach to life, his dry wit and his generousity to friends and even strangers in need. Sam is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara, his parents, Edail and Melvin, his brother, Ernest Dupreast , his sisters, Ruth Dickerson and Lou Ella Mayo and brother’s-in-law, Rueben (Dick) Dickerson and Everett (Shorty) Mayo. He is survived by his children, Pamela Renee Morgan and her husband, John, his son, Samuel Richard Dupreast, his grandchildren, Erica Rachel McAdams and Ashley Nicole Dunivant, step-grandchildren, Jarrod Evan Morgan and Brooke Erin Morgan, great-grandchildren, Nate Kirkland, Brendan Kirkland, Michael Kirkland, Presley McAdams, Carter Bishop and Silas Morgan, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Bellwood Fire Station, 351 Main Street, Bellwood, Alabama 36313, on Saturday, September 29th at 2:00pm. Interment will follow at the Beauregard Parish Cemetary in DeRidder, Louisiana, on Sunday, September 30th at 3:00 pm. Flowers or donations may be sent to the Bellwood Fire Station to arrive only on September 29th.