Samantha Renee Grandon (née Galloway) was born on March 21, 1991, to Karen and Barry Galloway on Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska and was a proud big sister to Dane and Max Galloway.

Samantha was a light to everyone she met. She was an amazing daughter, granddaughter, sister, cousin, niece, friend, parishioner, teacher- the list goes on.

Most importantly, Samantha was the wife of Christian Grandon and mother of their three beautiful young daughters - Lyra, Rosalia, and Lucia. Her husband Christian loved her endlessly. Their love for their girls, too, has no bounds.

Christian and Samantha met the summer after high school on July 25, 2009. Thanks to Sam’s knack for trip planning, their long-distance relationship between Illinois and Missouri flourished as they patched together charter buses, Amtrak routes and rides from friends on a college student budget.

They transferred to Truman State University to be closer, and their love grew as they finished their college years. Chris and Sam graduated together and soon after, wed on the day after the Feast of St. Valentine. Their family eventually grew to five as they welcomed their three daughters into the world over the next eight years.

Samantha had a deep love of God’s creation and always made sure the family took time to enjoy the great outdoors. She loved taking her brothers to Broemmelsiek and Klondike parks near her home in Missouri. Her love for the outdoors flourished after moving to Colorado and could often be found out on the trails with her girls. This love was nurtured by Park Ranger classes she was able to take through a scholarship. She dreamed of wearing the Park Ranger uniform someday. She would have been the best ranger in the history of our great nation.

Samantha was both a hockey fan and player. She enjoyed going to Missouri River Otters games and played several seasons with the St. Louis Cyclones girls hockey team. She always had an affinity for the Colorado Avalanche and was so full of joy watching the team celebrate their championship win this summer. Sam was also a deep lover of music - she played guitar, sang, frequently attended concerts, and even befriended members of superstar bands. She took pleasure in sharing her bevy of interests with everyone around her.

Although Samantha received treatment for the disease that was robbing her of her joy and hope, she fell victim to her battle with postpartum depression on Monday, September 26, 2022.

We share with St. Paul the firm conviction that "nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39). We cling tenaciously to Jesus' promise regarding our faithful departed: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28).

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to contribute to one of the funds set up to support Christian and his daughters, Lyra, Rosalia and Lucia, located at https://gofund.me/3494b6bf

Visitation: Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church-Weber Hall, 8 West Highway D, New Melle, MO 63365.
Funeral: Immediately following the visitation at IHM New Melle.