Samuel Chesnut, pastor of South Sooner Cowboy Church of the Nazarene, passed away 26 January. He was 70 years old. 

He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1948, and he married his wife, Norma Jean Chesnut, in 1966. Samuel received a Bachelor of Arts in music and a Doctor of Divinity from The Universal Bible Institute in Tennessee. Before serving at South Sooner Cowboy Church, Samuel served at Capitol Hill Church of God and First Church of God. 

In 2018, Samuel received a Distinguished Service Award from the Church of the Nazarene. He also worked shoeing horses, opened his own home building business, and he served as a police officer for 27 years. During his time in the police force, Samuel was awarded the Medal of Valor and the Medal of Accomplishment. He served on the SWAT team for 10 years, as a sniper for 14 years, and he served as one of the inaugural officers of the Mounted Horse Patrol in Oklahoma City.

He is survived by his wife, their two daughters — Darla Madion and Angela Akin — and their five grandchildren.

Funeral services were held 1 February at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene.