By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
This is a tough holiday season for the Sammet family and the people of Limestone County. District 1 Commissioner Daryl Sammet finished his battle with cancer in November, and his passing has been hard on everybody who knew him. While there is certainly comfort in the fact that he was a man of faith, listening to “Daryl stories” as told by his brother, Barry, and his sister, Susan, made me realize even more what a dear, hard-working man he was while he was with us.
Daryl was born in 1953, and was the middle of three children: Barry, who was 4 years older, and Susan, who was 5 years younger. Recently I sat down with Daryl’s siblings to do an article about their brother at the request of the Limestone County Commission. I can say from having spoken to them that all of the commissioners truly loved Daryl. He had already been duly honored in other publications, but I wanted to catch the heart and life of a man who faithfully served Limestone County from the perspective of those who experienced his “peskiness” when they were young, watched him come into his own as a public servant, and are missing him this Christmas.
Daryl’s parents were Charlie and Helen. Charlie was a barber, and he also served as the Limestone County Coroner. “Sometimes he would have to leave in the middle of a haircut to go be a coroner,” Barry said. Helen was a dedicated wife and mom. Their parents taught them the “old-fashioned” values of respect, honesty, dignity, and the Golden Rule the “old-fashioned” way, but that didn’t mean that Daryl didn’t ever drive his baby sister crazy. Big brother Barry had to firmly intervene from time to time. Susan said, “He was aggravating when he was 8 or 9, but he grew out of it. He was good-hearted and honest.”
Daryl graduated from Tanner High in 1972. He loved hunting and fishing, and in high school worked as an assistant in a veterinarian’s office. He especially loved dogs of all kinds—mutts and “Heinz 57s.” Daryl hunted everything and fished for anything. Barry said, “He would set trotlines and sometimes catch BIG turtles, and our grandmother would make turtle soup. Then he’d dry out the shells, shellac them and hang them on his walls.” Barry and Susan reminisced further with a smile and said, “Remember when he brought home that live owl?”
Daryl married and had three kids, all of whom still live in Limestone County, and some of whom seem to have inherited his love for hunting and fishing. Daryl has seven grandkids and one great-grandchild.
According to Barry’s family, he was a “jack-of-all-trades,” and could “do anything.” He had several trades-related jobs, including working at Christopher Plumbing and Electric. He also went into business for himself for a while and had his own landscaping business. “But all his life he just wanted to serve people,” Barry said. He then added, “He didn’t like conflict, and wanted to please people, but nothing made him feel more alive than helping people.” Daryl served Limestone County District 1 for four terms.
On December 15, several commissioners from Limestone County as well as state legislators gathered together to issue the following statement:
We honor and remember District 1 Commissioner Daryl Sammet for his dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to the people he served. His integrity, compassion, and devotion to the community left a lasting impact.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. His legacy of service will not be forgotten.
Thank you, Representative Andy Whitt and Representative Danny Crawford for presenting a Resolution this morning at the commission meeting in honor of Commissioner Sammet.
While many have their memories of Daryl that go back decades, I have a special one that has to do with crape myrtles. In 2012 or 2013 we went to the Crape Myrtle Festival and purchased two baby myrtles with the rarer bright red blossoms. They were carefully planted, making sure that they would miss someday getting entangled in the power lines when they “grew up.” Apparently, someone had a concern that they would need to be cut down, even though those little trees have had to fight for every inch of height that they possess due to the fact that they are on a lot with about 60 other trees. Wanting to be a good neighbor, I went to Daryl to find out what to do. With his kind, quiet way, he said, “I haven’t heard anything about that, so send me a picture.” In that moment, to me he showed such good leadership, and for me, those myrtles will hopefully be able to stay as a memorial to a dear man, Commissioner Daryl Lynn Sammet, of Limestone County, Alabama.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
