Paul Samuel “Sam” McInnis, 76, of Destin, Fla., died April 26, 2014, at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Fla., surrounded by his wife and family. Sam was born in Monroeville, Ala., on Aug. 7, 1937 to parents Palmer and Clara McInnis. He graduated from Alamogordo High School in New Mexico and briefly attended New Mexico A & M College. A successful career in the computer field including many years with Burroughs Corporation eventually led Sam to settle his family in Carmel in 1971. On Feb.4, 1978, Sam married the love of his life, Joyce K. Walker and soon after moved to Destin, Fla. Together they established a construction company, McInnis Design and Build, building over 400 custom homes along with condos, townhomes, churches, commercial buildings, motels and shopping centers. After a thriving career, Sam retired in 2000. Sam is survived by his wife of 36 years, Joyce, and beloved pet “Tiffany”; two daughters, Trisha (Steven) Sellers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Sharon O’Connell of Carmel; three stepdaughters Kim (Mark) Salt, Kathy Opfer and Karen (Brian) Saylor, all of Carmel; a brother, P. Ray (Mary Ellen) McInnis of Virginia; a sister Bonnie Jean (Lee) McCrory of Mobile, Ala.; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He also is survived by the mother of his children, Dorothy L. McInnis Mecca of Carmel. Sam was preceded by in death by his parents; and by a daughter, Karen “Candy” Rene McInnis Gay in 1999 and her husband, Jean Louis Gay, in 1996. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. May 3 at Leppert Mortuary, 900 N. Range Line Rd. in Carmel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Destin United Methodist Church & Destin Life Center, 200 Beach Drive, Destin, FL 32541.
