/Gardener remembered as 'vibrant' 'authentic' 
Samantha Lindquist 50 of Algonquin Highlands died last week in a car accident on Highway 35. Friends and family describe her as being an authentic and joyful person. /Submitted photo

Gardener remembered as 'vibrant' 'authentic' 

By Sue Tiffin

The last time Jason Lindquist spoke to his wife Samantha was at 3:15 p.m.on Aug. 4. She was on her way home from Lindsay and was letting him know she had stopped to run into the Coboconk Foodland for a few groceries.

Samantha was going to pick up something for dinner she told Jason likelychicken. He told her by the time she got home got cleaned up anddinner was prepared it would be 9 or 10 o’clock.
“No she goes I’m going to be home by 4 o’clock” recalled Jason. Then “four o’clock rolled around no word.”
Jason said he wasn’t concerned that Samantha had a love for shopping and itwouldn’t be uncommon for her to stop along the way home.
“That’scommon for her she loved to online shop she loved to shop stores too” he said. “I know Highway 35 has all those little antique shops I justtook it in my head you know what she’s stopped and she’s looking inthese places.”
At 5 o’clock Jason sent a text asking Sam where shewas. Fifteen minutes later the police arrived at their home onBuckslide Road in Algonquin Highlands.

At around 3:40 p.m. Samanthahad been in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 35 when a southbound carcollided with her own northbound car near Cameron Road. Jason saidpolice told him the oncoming car had crossed the line into Samantha’slane and though she tried to avoid it hitting the shoulder thesouthbound car still collided with hers killing her instantly. Jason’saunt Doreen Trinkwon from Oshawa a passenger in Samantha’s car wastransported via Air Ornge ambulance to Sunnybrook hospital with seriousinjuries. Highway 35 was closed in the area for several hours as theOPP’s technical collision investigation unit attended to assist with the investigation of the incident. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

“Mindblowing” said Jason. “I couldn’t even breathe. I couldn’t even breathe you know it was just unreal. Unbelievable.You couldn’t even believe it.”
Samantha who was 50 when she diedlast week was stepmom to George and his wife Allie and mom to ConnorBrandon and his partner Karly 15-year-old Lily and 11-year-oldJackson. She had two grandkids Abigail and Emma.
“It’s rough” saidJason. “My kids are stronger than me. But I don’t believe that it’s hithome yet for them. I sit here still myself and I don’t believe it. Yousit there and think she’s going to walk in the door any minute.”

Jason said his family experienced a huge outpouring of support when thecommunity learned it was Samantha who had died in the accident. Besidesmanaging Buckslide Tent and Trailer Park for almost two decades withJason who she met there 18 years ago when her parents owned theproperty Samantha was a friendly face at Pine Reflections Gift Storeand Garden Centre in Carnarvon.
“From the community from the people in the park from all walks of life” said Jason of the condolenceswhich even came from the Purolator delivery person. Samantha ran anonline Etsy page with clients from around the world ordering jewelry and custom synthetic hair and wool dreadlocks from her and if she wasn’tordering packages in she was sending packages out.
“I don’t knowhow he heard but he came in on Friday with a package and he knew about it gave me his condolences” said Jason. “I jokingly said don’t worry bud I’ll be seeing you for at least a couple more months because Iknow there’s more coming.”

Jason said Samantha was creative loved her flowers and was passionate about riding a motorcycle.
He inhales before describing her: “Authentic genuine she wears her heart on her sleeve caring what you see is what you get compassionate.”
About 100 posts were quickly added to a memorial posting for Samantha on thePine Reflections Gift Store and Garden Centre Facebook page. “Sambrought so much energy and fun to work so full of life and always with a smile on her face” reads the original post. “She loved all livingthings and was so eager to help and share her knowledge with everyoneshe met.”
Mourning friends family and customers of the garden shopadded that Samantha was sarcastic and witty knowledgeable and full ofjoy vibrant and energetic many describing her as being a force. A post on her memorial page notes “she could light up a room in 30 seconds.”
“She probably wouldn’t even realize how many people she touched” said Jason.

A GoFundMe account created for Samantha by her friend Tracey Brankerhas raised almost $7000 for the Lindquist family and can be visited at gofundme.com/f/samantha- lindquist-car-accident . Memorial donations in memory of Samantha can also be made to aneducation fund for Lily and Jackson through the Gordon A. Monk FuneralHome Ltd. P.O. Box 427 Minden Ontario K0M 2K0.