Bartlett Shriner Killed in Parade;Bartlett Shriner falls off buggy in parade;Bartlett Shriner Killed in Parade Accident i

OH My Prayers go out to this Family, how tragic. Words just can't say enough.

Sam Leeper will be truly missed by all his former friends at Actus Lend Lease. His personality and laughter were contagious.

Our deepest sympathy, to the Leeper Family. " God call's us home when he is ready not when we are". Brother Leeper was needed at the Grand Architects side, and now he is there with him.
Anthony D. Howell
Wahabi Shrine
1st Thessalonian 4:16

Sam and I worked together at Actus Lend Lease at Camp Lejeune NC I know he will be missed and our prayers are with his family

My prayers and thoughts are with his family. May God be your comforter in your time of need. Also with the Shriners members.

I met Sam Saturday morning. He will be apart of me and a special momment in my life forever. God Bless the Family.
Mike Jones
Ripley Lodge #630 Ripley, TN
Al Chymia Shrine, Memphis

I was marching in the parade while this happened. My band was #5 in the parade so we didn't get to witness the accident. It was sad such on such a wonderful night with such festive music ahead of him, that he had this accident. Nobody saw this coming, and I am sure he didn't either. God bless his family, 49 is too young to die. :(

I was at the parade and saw them doing the cirlces at the beginning. They were reving the motors up and when they started the circling and the motorcycles sped past, my first thought was OH NO! just like in Chattanooga! I was at the parade when the Shriners lost control of the dune buggy and it went into the crowd in Chattanooga and it hit two families and put them in the hospital. If the Shriners cannot drive along and not be irresponsible they need to stop being allowed to participate in the parade.

I was there at the parade Saturday night. I believe that this incident could have been prevented by safety measures. I remember looking specifically at them and thinking "that doesn't look that safe" [sitting on the back hood of the dune buggy]. Then, the next thing I see is a rush of people crowding around a man on the ground. It is just a reminder how close we all can get to the crossing the line of mortality. It can happen ANYWHERE-ANY DAY! God bless the family in this time of sorrow!

I too worked with Sam and he will be missed...my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and I was honored to have known him.

paradeparticipant wrote:

I was at the parade and saw them doing the cirlces at the beginning. They were reving the motors up and when they started the circling and the motorcycles sped past, my first thought was OH NO! just like in Chattanooga! I was at the parade when the Shriners lost control of the dune buggy and it went into the crowd in Chattanooga and it hit two families and put them in the hospital. If the Shriners cannot drive along and not be irresponsible they need to stop being allowed to participate in the parade.

Your comment "if the Shriners cannot drive along and not be irresponsible they need to stop being allowed to participate int eh parade" THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE, you have no idea what the family of the person killed feels, nor the person driving feels like, or what the Shriners feel like. I guess you think you are responsible?? Let me tell you something, I talked to Sam prior to the parade and there was not one person at that event that could have been more proud to be there than him. The shriners do wonders for children with burns and orthopedic problems, and they do it for FREE. The dune buggy was going between 5-10 miles a hour which I will point out is slower than school zones. Dont you dare get on here and talk your crap about Shriners. You don't have any idea what you are talking about. Why cant something just be a accident without pointing a finger?? It was just that a freak accident.

Please say your prayers for everyone involved and those that wittnessed it.

I regret to inform you that that our beloved Project Manager, Sam Leeper, died this weekend from a freak accident at the Bartlett Christmas Parade. Visitation will be Thursday at 6:00pm followed by services at 7:00 at the Bartlett Funeral Home.
Our hearts go out to his wife,2 little kids and all of his family and friends. Sam and I share in our commitment to our family and education; therefore, Precise is sponsoring a college fund for his 5 and 7 year old daughters, Olivia and Fiona. Please make donation Payable to The Olivia and Fiona College Fund at 1123 S.Third St. Memphis TN 38106.(Checks Only Please)
Sincerely,
Martin Carodine
CEO
Precise Contracting

There will also be a Masonic Funeral after the visitation. All Masons and Shriners are encouraged to attend.

For everyone interested: There has been a fund set up for the Leeper family.
If you wish to donate the address is:
Leeper Family Fund
Attn: Joey Williams
5770 Shelby Oaks Drive
Memphis, TN 38134

We want the family to be able to have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and to have their needs taken care of for as long as possible.
Thank you.