Sam Alan Vermillion

SAM "FLASH" VERMILLION Sam "Flash" Vermillion, of Fort Myers, Florida, formerly of Keokuk, Iowa, died Monday, January 16, 2017, at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers. He was 64 years old. Sam was born May 22, 1952, in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Sam A. and Mary (Edler) Vermillion. He married the former Diana Jacobs; the couple later divorced. They were the parents of a daughter, Alicia Dawn, who died in infancy, and for whom Sam mourned all the days of his life. Sam attended Washington Central and Lincoln elementary schools in Keokuk, as well as the junior and senior high schools there. He attended Roosevelt Military Academy, Aledo, Illinois, and thereafter enlisted in the United States Navy where he received training as a hospital corpsman and field medic. His proudest days were those spent in military service. As a teenager Sam was, in effect, part of the garage band scene. He got his early "roadie" training meeting up with GONN at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Keokuk and helping carry their wall of Fender amps up three flights of stairs, or at any number of other venues in the area. He did the same for Ilmo Smokehouse, The Gallows, Brillo & The Firebirds, and others. It was not only a way to get in free but it was a way to hang out with the bands, see how things were done, and take part in it all from the inside out. It was while working as a roadie for "Black Oak Arkansas" that Sam earned his nickname "Flash" after setting up their electronically triggered pyrotechnics with an excessive amount of flash powder. Flash is remembered as always happy and energetic, and even late in life he frequently posted messages to the many, many artists he had met, reaffirming his love of music, always encouraging them with his enthusiasm and spirit. During the last 40 years Sam has called Florida home, most recently living in Fort Myers. Here Sam worked as a custom upholsterer, a trade in which he got his first experience working for Dean Bickel in Keokuk. For the last 12 years Sam worked for Larry’s Auto Upholstery at a career he enjoyed immeasurably as it served as an outlet for his amazing artistic creativity with steel, foam, leather and canvas in reproducing original auto, RV, airplane or marine upholstery, or creating his own unique designs in a variety of products. Sam was preceded in death by his father, Sam A. Vermillion II; daughter, Alicia; nephew Joseph Honzik; both maternal and paternal grandparents and great grandparents; several uncles, aunts and cousins. Sam is survived by his mother, Mary (Tom) Layman, Nebraska; sisters Dodie (Larry) Honzik, Wisconsin; Amy Jones, Texas; and Mary Johnston, Iowa; nieces LaKeisha and Dallas Jones; nephews Dean and Philip Honzik, Marques Jones, and John Johnston; special cousin, Peg Vermillion, Keokuk; several other cousins; his many loyal and loving friends of the Ernest M Schultz II Post 351, Fort Myers, Florida; and the hundreds of friends and acquaintances across the country whose lives he touched via the music he loved. Memorials may be made to Younger than Yesterday Student Fund, 2615 North University, Peoria, IL 61604. Memorial services were held on January 24, 2017, in Fort Myers, at Ernest M. Schultz III American Legion Post 351. Services included formal Legion rites and culminated in the ceremonial release of white doves. Interment of cremains and military committal services will be held for Sam "Flash" Vermillion on Monday, May 22, 2017, at the Keokuk National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Family and friends are invited to attend. Neptune Society Fort Myers assisted the family with arrangements.