Sam Martin Durso

Sam Martin Durso June 16, 1934 - March 14, 2014

Sam Martin Durso, 79, of Groves, Texas passed away on Friday, March 14, 2014. He was born on June 16, 1934 in Port Arthur, Texas to Sam Durso and Josephine Arisco Durso. Sam was a lifelong resident of the Port Arthur/Groves area. He graduated from Bishop Byrne High School Section I in 1951 and The University of Texas at Austin in 1956 with a BS in Pharmacy. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and Kappa Psi Pharmacy Fraternity. Sam met Sondra Jo Hampton, from Fort Worth, Texas, while they were attending the University of Texas. They wed on October 26, 1957 and were married for 56 years. They resided in the Port Arthur/Groves area their entire marriage. In 1961 Sam & Sondra opened Durso Pharmacy located at 4100 32nd Street in Port Arthur. He would go on to serve the community there for 30 years until he closed the pharmacy in 1991. He continued to work as a relief pharmacist until 2012. He was a member of the Gulf Coast Pharmaceutical Association and the Knights of Columbus. Sam also enjoyed traveling, working in his yard, playing Blackjack with his buddies and spending time with his family and friends. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Joseph Durso, M.D. and sister, Rosetta Durso Jones, both of Port Arthur. He is survived by his wife, Sondra Hampton Durso; sons, Steve M. Durso of Austin, Texas, and Mark H. Durso and his wife Kelly Doyle Durso of Coppell, Texas; grandchildren Delanie and Jake Durso of Coppell. Visitation will be on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a vigil service at 6:30 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home in Groves. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Thursday, March 20, 2014 at St. James Catholic Church with Rev. J. C. Coon serving as celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Humane Society of Southeast Texas or the charity of your choice.