Jaynel "Jay" Ann Samrow

Jaynel (Jay) Armstrong Samrow was born November 23, 1942, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She married her childhood sweetheart, Cassmere Frank Samrow (Sam) on November 26, 1960. They moved to El Paso, Texas in 1961 when Sam joined the Army but remained proud “Cajuns” returning to New Orleans for many years to attend week-long family reunions on Lake Ponchartrain (a family tradition dating back to the late 1800s). Jay and Sam moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1982 when Sam retired from the military and got a job at General Dynamics. They settled in Benbrook, Texas. 

When Sam started working at GD, they met Joyce and Frank Winford and quickly became best friends. Along with Joyce and Frank, Jay and Sam were blessed with meeting and becoming very good friends with a group of people that can only be described as the best friends anyone could have. They spent time with the group going camping, spending holidays together, traveling on road trips, cruising the oceans and, of course, watching Cowboy games together. 

Jay was extremely smart and loved to read. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and friend. She was thoughtful, kind, caring and would always go out of her way to help others. 

Jay started showing signs of Alzheimer’s in the late part of 2010s and Sam took wonderful care of her until his passing in March of 2020. Later that year, Jay went into assisted living and later memory care. All that time, her wonderful friends stayed by her side visiting her religiously. We cannot thank them enough for their compassion and love that they showed to her. 

Jay was preceded in death by her husband, Cassmere Frank Samrow; parents, Thomas D. Armstrong, and Ruth Dazet Armstrong; sister and brother-in-law, Joan, and Albert Moliere; and brother-in-law, Gustave (Gus) Adolph. 

She is survived by her sister, Jeanne Adolph; three children, Dannette Martin and husband, Jeff Martin; Donald Samrow and wife, Jo Samrow; and Dean Samrow and wife, Robin Samrow; many grandchildren; and great grandchildren. 

Visitation: 6-8:00 pm, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at Winscott Road Funeral Home. After the visitation, Jay’s remains will be cremated, and she will be laid to rest with Sam at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, with a ceremony and Celebration of Life, sometime in the Fall.