Obituary

My name is Cassie Sampson. I was born Cassandra Dawn Paxton on November 6. 1985, but everyone calls me Cassie, except for my mom and dad, they call me Baby Cass.

There was a book my mom used to read to us when we were little, “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.” Reading that book is one of my mom’s fondest memories, tears would just roll down her face while she read it. Josh always wanted her to read it again and again for that reason, he thought it was so funny that my mom would cry reading a book.

My mom is Dawn Michelle Paxton Welch, she has a wife, Amy Renee Hively. I want to thank Amy for loving my mom and supporting her. My dad is Leonard Clay Paxton, my dad is married to an amazing woman, Kathy “Kat” Paxton. Most would say stepmom, but I know that is not true — she’s my other mom.

My mom and dad are both still living; my dad with Kat in La Porte, IN, and my mom with Amy in Dunbar, WV. I know they’re hurting so bad right now at the loss of me, but I don’t want you to be sad because all I’ve ever wanted in my life was to be a mom. That wasn’t possible in my human life, but I am now a mom and I couldn’t be happier. Please remember that “What the caterpillar perceives as the end, to the butterfly is just the beginning.”

I am married to William “Will” Sampson. Although we have been separated for five years, I have a huge extended family whom I love and who love and miss me very much. My little brother, Joshua Tailor Paxton, is still living, he lives in Hometown, WV, with my sister-in-law, Ashley, along with my nephew Michael Aiden Carter, my nieces Adeline (Addie) Nicole Paxton and Harleigh Reese Paxton, aka Hurricane Harleigh. Josh and I always had a strong bond, so much that I was the only one who could interpret what he was saying when he was little. My baby sister, Sarah Katherine Michelle Paxton, lives in La Porte, IN, I call her Sarah Beara, whom I prayed into existence. We have matching tattoos and she says I taught her everything she knows about alternative Rock. Mykah Graydon Smith is our baby brother, he lives in Saint Albans, WV, it’s because of me that Mykah loves to read, we both love Sci Fi and fantasy. The first time Mykah read and watched Harry Potter, we did it together.

My Nunnee, Linda F. Paxton, is 85 years young. She lives in Ripley, WV. She loves me like no other and has taught me so much about sobriety, forgiveness and unconditional love. My maternal grandmother “Mama” Sandra (Sandy) Jean Welch and my maternal papa James Lewis Welch, along with my paternal papa Keith Paxton, my cousin Crystal Paxton and my faithful, loving and loyal friend and companion “Reese” all welcomed me when I arrived up here.  My aunt Della, my uncle Rick and my cousin Justin Bailey all live in Denver, CO. My uncle Jimbo, Amanda and my cousin Jesse Welch all live in Ridgeway, VA. My aunt Bev and my cousins Mark and Destinee Payne live in Dunbar, WV. My uncle Brian, aunt Jenny and Tyler Paxton live in Ravenswood, WV.

I have a ton of friends, all so very different and unique just like me. If you asked, they would say I’m a very accepting, loving, devoted and loyal friend, very colorful, beautiful on the inside and the out, they would say I have a big heart and beautiful spirit and my voice is amazing.  Even though it’s hard and I miss you all, please know I’ll see you again, and remember I am now made whole and well. This song by Casting Crowns, “Scars in Heaven,” I find grace, peace and healing in the lyrics; I hope it helps you as well.

Scars in Heaven 

I know the road you walked was anything but easy
You picked up your share of scars along the way
Oh, but now you’re standing in the sun
You’ve fought your fight and your race is run
The pain is all a million miles away
The only scars in Heaven
They won’t belong to me and you
There’ll be no such thing as broken
And all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now
Even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in Heaven, yeah
Are on the hands that hold you now 
There’s not a day goes by that I don’t see you
You live on in all the better parts of me
Until I’m standing with you in the sun
I’ll fight this fight and this race I’ll run
Until I finally see what you can see, oh, oh
The only scars in Heaven
They won’t belong to me and you
There’ll be no such thing as broken
And all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now
Even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in Heaven
Are on the hands that hold you now 

In Loving Memory
Cassandra “Cassie” Dawn (Paxton) Sampson
November 6, 1985 – September 14, 2024

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Nitro Women’s Club, 2205 2nd Avenue, Nitro, WV 25143.

Condolences may be sent to Cassie’s family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.