Sam passed away at the age of 78 in his home in Highlands, NC, surrounded by family and friends. Sam was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on May 9, 1947. Growing up in Montgomery, he was known as Bob. He attended several high schools and finally graduated from Lanier High School in Montgomery. He was a proud kilt-wearing KA at The University of the South, where he remains a sophomore. He left Sewanee to join the Marine Corps, serving for two years at Quantico. He had many memorable experiences working with his father, "Red," at Blount, Inc. His time with the company took him to exotic locales from Saudi Arabia to Union Springs, Alabama. For several years, he was a riverboat guide on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. His time guiding and entertaining people down the river was one of his happiest. Sam owned Meadowcroft, Inc. and Spotted Horse Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he continued his western adventures. Sam loved the Marine Corps all his life and was a founding member of the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
Sam was a force of nature, as many of the condolence messages flooding in have said. People were drawn to his marvelous, contagious laugh like moths to a flame. He never met a stranger as he collected friends around the world. His storytelling and jokes were legendary. No one ever heard him complain; if you got in the car with him, you never knew where you would end up, and anyone who faced him across the ping pong table has lived to regret their life choices. He was truly larger than life to his children and to others fortunate enough to grow up around him. He taught his family and friends how to have fun, whether it was getting a jeep stuck in the mud, alligator egg hunting from a helicopter, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, or taking the boat out for a sunset cruise. His five children were brought up in a variety of locations, and he imparted in each of them a sense of adventure, an ability to look on the bright side, a love for the best things in life, and a deep, deep hatred of dill pickles.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Winton Malcolm “Red” Blount, Jr., and Mary Katherine Archibald Blount, and by his brother, Winton Malcolm Blount, III. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 37 years, Mary McKee Blount; by five children: Laura Kelly Blount, John Overton Blount (Caroline), Samuel Roberts Blount, Jr., Daniel Gardner Blount (Alyssa), Mildred Virginia Sullivan (Rob); seven grandchildren: India Jane Grimsley Hodge (Mason), Colin Grimsley, Walton Grimsley, Laura Blount, Wesley Blount, Delilah Blount, Beau Blount; and one great grandchild: Tallulah Jane Hodge; his siblings Thomas Archibald Blount, Katherine Blount, Joseph Wilbert Blount; and by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who adored him.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Samuel R. Blount can be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation online at www.marineheritage.org or mailed to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, VA 22172. Donations may also be made in Sam's memory to The Alabama Shakespeare Festival online at asf.net/donate or by mail to 1 Festival Drive, Montgomery, AL, or to the charity of your choice.
A Celebration of Sam's life will be held on April 11, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Alabama.
Online condolences may be made to www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.
Bryant-Grant Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Blount family.
Posted online on March 14, 2026
Published in Montgomery Advertiser