Samuel "Grand Duke" Dancy Jr ., 74, of Surrey, closed his eyes to this world and opened them in the arms of God, on Saturday January 3, 2009, in a Minot hospital.

Samuel Dancy Jr. was born in Scotland Neck, North Carolina on May 1, 1934 to Sam Sr. and Dorinda (James) Dancy. Samuel was reared and educated in Scotland Neck, North Carolina. Samuel also known as "Sam" to his friends earned the nickname "Grand Duke" , a name he earned for his skills in the boxing ring which took him as far as the 1966 Olympic trials in the middle weight division.

Samuel served in both the United States Army, and the United States Air Force, retiring after twenty two years of honorable service to his country. Afterwards he worked in civil service for another eighteen years. He earned his BA in Business Administration, from Waylon Baptist College, in Lubbock, Texas. Samuel was a loyal member of the Masons, Disabled American Veterans, a family historian, and later in life became a member of his mother's people's tribe the Tuscarora.

Sam is survived by his loving wife of 51 years Dorothy; Sons: Lafayette, Samuel III, and Maurice; Grandchildren: Arruetta (Jason) and Terry; Sisters: Ethel Wiggins, Dorinda McDaniels, and Frances Woodhouse.

Samuel was preceded in death by his daughter, Marinda Eiland in 1998, his parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Family Service: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot
Visitation: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home of Minot
Funeral service: Saturday, January 10, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Scotland Neck, NC