Samuel Kent Gurr

Samuel Kent Gurr of Las Vegas passed away on April 14, 2026, at the age of 49, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Sam was born on December 20, 1976, in Boise, Idaho, to Steve and Marla Gurr. Just before his first birthday, the family moved to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where his brother Jerimiah was later born. In 1980, they relocated to Steve’s Hometown, McGill, Nevada, where the family continued to grow with the addition of brother James and sister Elizabeth.

As a young boy, Sam embraced the joys of small-town life on the edge of the mountains. He loved swimming, fishing, biking, playing baseball, and spending time with family and friends. Many of his summers were spent in Emmett, Idaho, with his grandparents, LaMar and Mary Mouritsen, where he enjoyed camping, swimming, family reunions, and making lasting memories with his many cousins.

At age nine, Sam moved with his mother and siblings to Ely, Nevada. During this time, his artistic talents began to emerge. He learned to play the piano and soon discovered a flair for creative expression especially around Halloween, when neighborhood kids and his siblings eagerly lined up to be transformed by his imaginative makeup into werewolves, zombies, and even Klingons.

In 1987, the family moved to Las Vegas in search of new opportunities. Sam took up the trombone in sixth grade and continued playing through junior high and into his junior year of high school. He attended Valley High School and later graduated from Adult Education in 1995. Sam dedicated many years to his work at Sam’s Town, where he proudly earned his 20-year service pin shortly after his cancer diagnosis.

In 2018, Sam met the love of his life, Shaquanshia “Kenni” Nicole Johnson. Along with her came a son, Theodore James McGhee, whom Sam loved deeply. He was so happy and proud to take him to his first day of school. Sam and Kenni shared a bond so strong that they joyfully married not once, but twice.

Sam marched to the beat of his own artistic drum. His sculptures and resin creations were widely admired, and several of his larger works were featured and ceremoniously burned at Nevada’s Dark Skies festivals, earning him a place as a fictional character in the book Torcher Town by Teresa X. Roberts.

Though largely self-taught, Sam blossomed into a remarkable artist. He created striking portraits and had a passion for fantasy and horror art. His creativity extended beyond drawing into sculpting, where he brought his imaginative creatures to life using wire and papier-mâché. A devoted uncle to Emilee and Clark Chapson, Sam spent countless hours with them creating art and baking their beloved “horror cakes,” multiple chalk art masterpieces and many hours of video games.

Sam was also known as the family’s “Facebook reporter,” keeping everyone updated on traffic, weather, his daily meals, and the antics of his many animals and often sharing humorous and unusual encounters from around Las Vegas with his wonderful storytelling ability.

Sam had the gruff exterior of a Viking but possessed the heart of an artist and the soul of a poet. Anyone who spent time talking with him quickly became a friend. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, creativity, wisdom, and unforgettable stories.

Sam is survived by his wife, Shaquanshia “Kenni” Gurr, and his beloved son, Teddy McGhee; his mother, Marla VanPut (Patrick) of Letha, Idaho; his brother, Jerimiah Gurr of Letha, Idaho; his sister, Elizabeth Chapson of Las Vegas; his sister, Julie Durfy of Bicknell, Utah; his brother, Jeff Gurr of Escalante, Utah; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his younger brother James, his father Steve, and all four of his grandparents.

Celebrations of Sam’s life will be held in both Las Vegas and Letha, Idaho. He will be laid to rest beside his brother James at Bramwell Cemetery in Emmett, Idaho.