Gansevoort, NY – Ella Elizabeth Dixon Sampson, age 88, peacefully passed away on May 17, 2025, at Saratoga Hospital.

Born October 17, 1936 in Worcester, MA to the late Arthur Dixon and Frances Marchbank Dixon. Ella married James J. Sampson on October 17, 1959 before moving to Philadelphia and then Fort Ord, CA. Then Ella and Jim moved to Germany for the Berlin Wall but stayed on to tour much of Europe. Her son, Leonard was born in New Market, NJ followed by her daughter, Elizabeth in Poughkeepsie, NY. While living in Dutchess County. Ella was very active teaching school, and playing the organ. She retired to Warrensburg where she continued playing in churches from Chestertown to Albany.

Ella earned a Bachelor's degree of music in Organ playing and Church Music. She received her Master's degree from Long Island University.

Ella was an organist for several churches, including the Protestant Chapel at the Dexheim Protestant Church in Germany. She played for 10 years at the Federated Church in Millbrook, NY, where she also directed the youth choir. For 18 years she was the organist and choir director at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie, NY. She played and directed for 10 years at the Presbyterian Church in Beacon, NY.  She retired from St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Saratoga Springs, NY. Ella also taught private lessons for the piano, organ and the French horn. She also played the trombone in the NJ Symphony.

Ella and Jim were avid travelers, both in the United States and abroad. They loved to hike and camp, they thought nothing of paddling 12 miles in their canoe while stopping to picnic and swim along the way. She also loved to ski both on water and on snow, and she loved doing these things with her family.

Ella is survived by her husband of 65 years, James J. Sampson of Gansevoort, NY; Children, Leonard Sampson, his wife, Emily of New Orleans, LA and Elizabeth K. Sampson, her husband, Melvin Jee of Northbride, MA; grandchildren, Peter Lai-LePage, James P. Sampson, Frank Sampson, Nelson Sampson, Daniel Sampson, Theodore Jee and Callie Jee; sister, Marion Dixon Kelley of North Hampton, NH; and many friends.

Relatives and friends may call from 11:00am -12:00pm on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 149 Lake Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 with a funeral service at 12:00pm. An interment will be held at 1:30pm at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville, NY.

Online condolences can be made by visiting; www.burkefuneralhome.com