Samuel Mason Torrence

Sunset Memorial Park
Funeral Home and Crematory, LLC
1700 Barrington Rd. Midland City, AL
(334) 983-6604
Robert and Toni Byrd

www.SunsetMemorialPark.com

Samuel Mason Torrence, age 87, of Dothan, Alabama passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2017. He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on January 11, 1930 and grew up in New Bern, North Carolina. He graduated from Wake Forest University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Following graduation, Sam served in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama. During this period, he met his future wife Juleann Flowers, the daughter of Quin Flowers Sr., a partner in Couch Construction Company in Dothan. He joined Couch as Office Manager in June, 1954 and was later promoted to Assistant Secretary Treasurer. Sam and Juleann were married on October 15, 1955. When Mr. Flowers died suddenly in 1959, Sam was appointed General Manager, eventually serving as President of the company and remaining in that role after Couch, Inc. was purchased by Superfos, Inc. in 1985. During his time with Couch until his retirement in 1995, Sam sought to motivate his employees to do a job “one time correctly” and to encourage them to develop their talents and grow in their careers.

He served as President of the Alabama Road Builders Association, the Alabama Asphalt Pavement Association, and the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Mr. Torrence was a member of the Capstone Engineering Society at the University of Alabama, and he was a founding member of the National Council of Asphalt Technology (NCAT) and was instrumental in bringing it to Auburn University where it is now the research center for the worldwide asphalt industry. Sam was elected to the first class of the Hall of Fame of the Alabama Roadbuilders Association in 2002. In addition to serving the local, state, and national construction industry, he was Chairman of the Dothan Chamber of Commerce, a 61-year member of the Dothan Kiwanis Club, a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow, and a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

Sam was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church of Dothan. He was Chairman of the Church Administrative Board and held many other church offices, including a position on the board of the United Methodist Children’s Home. He was a faithful member of the Men’s Bible Class. In his last year of life, Sam received in service much more than he ever gave to First Methodist through the church’s Respite Care ministry which provided him immense happiness as he struggled with Alzheimer’s Disease.

He loved playing and watching golf on the world’s finest courses and was a member of the Dothan Country Club, Peachtree Golf Club and Highlands Falls Country Club, among others. He enjoyed attending the Masters Golf Tournament each year, taking his family, friends, and especially his grandsons through the years to share his love of the game and tradition.

He had boundless energy for fun, adventure, and travel with his family. His grandchildren have many wonderful memories of summer weekends with Sam at Panama City Beach, in his beloved mountains of Highlands, North Carolina, and holidays at the family home in Dothan. His eight grandchildren grew up as best friends because of the fun places and events Sam sponsored in the name of togetherness.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Mason Torrence, Sr. and Espie Harriett Lee Torrence, and by his brother Harry Lee Torrence.

Sam is survived by his wife of 61 years, Juleann Flowers Torrence; by his daughters, Julie Torrence Shaw (Steve) of Dothan, Lane Torrence Fleming (Ned) of Dallas, TX and Lee Torrence Billings (Paul), of Memphis, TN; by grandchildren Caroline Shaw Davis (Grant) of Birmingham, Julie Shaw Blount (David) of Birmingham, Steven Douglas Shaw, Jr (Katie) of Dothan, Lee Ellen Fleming Darden (Thad) of Dallas, TX Ned Nelson Fleming IV (Natalie) of Dothan, Margaret Fleming Rees-Jones (David) of New York, NY, Paul Barrett Billings III (Stephanie) of Washington, DC, and Lane Torrence Billings of Austin, TX; and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Quin Flowers Jr., and his sister-in-law Terry Torrence, and nephews Harry Lee Torrence Jr., and Jeffrey Torrence.

Serving as pall bearers are Douglas Shaw, Nelson Fleming, Paul Billings III, Grant Davis, David Blount, Thad Darden, David Rees-Jones, Clay Howell, and Clyde Howell.

The family would like to acknowledge long-time caregiver and friend Mrs. Ethel McClendon, and faithful friend, helper and administrative assistant, Jane Williams.

A celebration of Sam’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 18, at 2:30 PM at First United Methodist Church with Dr. James B. Sanders, III officiating, with visitation beginning at 1:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Sunset Memorial Park is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be sent to the First United Methodist Church “Respite Care” ministry or the “In Christ’s Name” ministry, 1380 West Main St. Dothan, AL 36301 www.fumcdothan.org

Robert Byrd of Sunset Funeral Home, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements. Please call us or visit www.SunsetMemorialPark.com for more information.