Dr. Sam W. Moss

Samuel Watson Moss, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025, at the age of 78.

Sam was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Mildred and Wade Moss, and at the age of 5, moved home to Montgomery, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama, graduating in 1969. He then joined the US Navy, serving as Public Affairs Officer and Head of the Visitors Bureau with the US Naval Forces Southern Command/ Fifteenth Naval District in Panama until 1972, when he was discharged as a LTJG. He returned to Alabama and earned a Masters degree in physiology at the University of Alabama, then moved in 1974 to pursue a doctorate in physiology at the Louisiana State University medical center in New Orleans. Upon completing his coursework and exams for his doctorate, he then entered medical school at LSU, receiving his medical degree in 1980. After a residency in Denver, Colorado, he settled in Huntsville, Alabama as an internist with the Huntsville Clinic. In 1990 Sam made a professional move to Atlanta to join Kaiser Permanente and remained there until his retirement in 2014. Working in several offices, he spent most of his years at the Alpharetta office where he served as office manager of adult medicine. He also worked with the Kaiser region on Asthma and Depression. Sam loved medicine and helping people and he loved his associates, doctors and nurses. He had great skill as a manager of time and organization and was respected as being honest and fair. He created a cheerful work atmosphere combined with superb medical care. Sam also had complete trust in all the medical care he received from the many doctors who worked with him at Northside Hospital Forsyth, and he had great respect for each one, knowing they gave their all in treating him.

During his work years, Sam also spent much time volunteering with medical organizations. He was a volunteer doctor with his brother-in-law on medical mission trips to Honduras for 7 years. He worked at the free clinic in Dahlonega for years. His faith was important to him to help those in need.

After retiring in 2014 Sam continued to work part time at various offices until 2023. His great love was travel, some overseas and some in his beloved trailer, along with his big truck, which had been pulled to Maine and Michigan and the Dakotas and Arizona and everywhere in between, touching all 48 continental states.

Sam’s greatest love-even more than his trailer and big truck-was his family. He met his wife of 56 years, Sheilia, at age 19, and they spent the rest of their years together, moving various places and raising a family. He had a quick wit, funny one-liners, loved to laugh, and displayed such confidence and independence and sincere friendliness that it was contagious. His whole family gained from his attitude. His lengthy illness never stopped his optimism about life. Sweet Sam is survived by his wife Sheilia, who loves life as much as he did and is excited to see each new morning. He adored his children and is survived by his son Stephen (Lindsay) and grandchildren Sydney 17, Hunter 14 and Samantha 12, his daughter Shawn Ferrara (Tommy) and grandchildren Colette 13, Sloane 12, and Kaden 10, and his son Christopher. He had great joy taking each grandchild on a special trip. He is also survived by his sister, Betty McAuliffe, of Richmond, Virginia, his brother-in-law George Nunn, who he thought of as his brother, and wife, Joy, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, his sister-in-law Margaret Hardy of Cullman, Alabama, and sister-in-law Kathleen Moss, of Hyde Park, New York. He also had a younger brother, Bill, now deceased and a brother-in-law, Gary McAuliffe, now deceased. Sam was so proud of his children, their achievements and their ability to overcome obstacles. He was proud that they live a life full of faith in Jesus. Sam’s faith was firm and certain, but it was simple, and he often would say, “let’s keep the main thing the main thing”.

There will be a celebration of life for Sam on Sunday, October 12th, at 2:00 pm at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1125 Bettis-Tribble Gap Rd, Cumming, Ga. 30040. There will be a brief time after the service to visit with the family and other guests in the fellowship hall.

At a later date, Sam’s remains will be interred at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: 

Big Oak Ranch

A Christian Home for Children Needing a Chance

6000 Shelley Drive

Springville, AL 35146