Sammy Clemons remembered by loved ones as ‘a beautiful, sweet and gentle soul’

Samuel Clemons, shown here holding one of the cats he loved to take care of, is remembered as a kind and caring soul who rescued cats and worked with the Wild Thing Feline Fix program in Jefferson City

Sammy Clemons loved cats.

The University of Missouri sophomore, who majored in biological sciences, loved them so much, in fact, that he volunteered with the Wild Thing Feline Fix program in Jefferson City. He fed feral cat colonies, and owned an Instagram page that showcased his love of rescuing cats.

“These are my cats,” the bio read. “All of them are rescues.”

The page featured 13 felines in total. There was Tippy, who had many nicknames (Tee Toe, Tee Top, Tip Ta Topen, and Tee Ta Toes), Leo, Tigra, Chloe, Alice, Charley, Gunther, Panthra, Louie, Sidecar, and Marshmallow. There was a special post for a cat that he once pet-sit named Peaty, and a memorial post for Penny, one of his cats who had died, noting that she would be “the best kitty cat angel” and that she was “the fiercest princess.”

Samuel Clemons’ remains were found by police in a fire pit in the backyard of a northern Columbia home on Jan. 10. He was 21 years old. Emma Adams, 20, is charged with his murder.

Friends and family recalled Clemons as kind and loving. When he wasn’t obsessing over cats or volunteering to feed them, he packed meals for children in need with his outreach youth group at Wesley United Methodist Church in Jefferson City through their Buddy Packs program.

Clemons, who was autistic, also trained younger coworkers at Sonic who had disabilities.

Clemons first began volunteering with Wild Thing when he was 10 years old. At the time, he was caring for a group of cats in his neighborhood. His work with the organization continued as he grew up, and he used money from a part-time job in high school to donate bags of cat food to the organization when he could.

“Sammy had such a big heart,” Wild Thing co-founder Jennifer Tergin said.

Samuel Clemons.

When Clemons moved to Columbia to attend the University of Missouri, he still made a point to go back to Jefferson City on weekends to volunteer for Wild Thing and feed the cats.

“Sammy never missed an opportunity to help, and with a big bright smile.”

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According to Penny Mueller, the former Director of Youth Ministries at Wesley United Methodist Church, Clemons was also part of the church mission that volunteered at the local animal shelter. Mueller remembered him as being “very mission-minded.”

“He was a very kindhearted young man that always thought of and had great compassion for others and animals,” Mueller said.

According to a close family friend who spoke on his family’s behalf, Clemons struggled because of his autism. He was vulnerable and oftentimes naive. He didn’t drive because of sensory overload difficulties related to his disability. That didn’t come close to defining him, though.

“Sammy was extremely intelligent, very book smart. He had a beautiful future ahead of him cut short,” family friend Brittany Martin said in a statement to the Tribune.

Samuel Clemons, shown here feeding goats, didn’t just harbor a love of cats. He also packed meals for children in need with his outreach youth group at Wesley United Methodist Church in Jefferson City through their Buddy Packs program.

The biological sciences major loved researching how to protect bats and bees and was insistent on recycling. He also loved to draw. Clemons showcased many superhero drawings on social media that often reflected his love of comic books, which he collected hundreds of. He made detailed portraits of the Wolverine, Wonder Woman, The Joker, Batman, and more.

“He was just a beautiful, sweet and gentle soul that didn’t deserve this,” Martin said. “He met evil.”

According to Martin, Clemons loved a lot of things and a lot of people, but notably, he hated the song “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” written by Frank Loesser.

“He thought that it depicted a man forcing his desires on a woman wanting to leave,” Martin said.

“[He] always had a giant smile for anyone and would jump to help someone in need. Sadly, that’s probably what led to his death.”

Samuel Clemons, shown here with one of his feline friends, had an Instagram page that had 13 felines in total.

In 2013, Clemon’s brother, Randy Chugg, also died at the age of 21. Chugg, who was in the army, originally went missing on Dec. 12, 2013. Months later, in March 2014, a fisherman found Chugg’s body 15 miles out from Jefferson City.

Randy’s father, who was a Marine, pinned his own Purple Heart medal to Chugg’s casket so that he could be buried with honor.

“Their mom now has just one of her three children left alive, and he now has lost his older brother and baby brother, one to suicide and one to murder,” Martin said.

Clemons’ father, John Mark Clemons, died when he was younger. Sammy and Chugg are survived by their mother, Jennifer Riley, and their brother, Zac Mendoza-Riley.

“The world needs more people like Sammy,” Tergin said.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Sammy Clemons, Columbia murder victim, remembered by loved ones