Samia Z. Macon (1967-2023)

Samia Zaki Macon passed from this life on August 13, 2023 following a diagnosis of glioblastoma in February 2023. She was 55 years old. She was home and surrounded by her family.

Samia was born on November 10, 1967, in Cairo, Egypt, to Sami Sami Zaki and Barbara Zaki (Perrin). The family moved to Ceres, California in 1968, and later to Burbank, California, where Samia attended elementary and high school at Village Christian School. She graduated from UC Davis with a degree in biological science in 1989, and with a doctorate of veterinary medicine in 1994. Samia married Dan Macon in Sonora, CA, in August 1990.

After working for Loomis Basin Large Animal Clinic in Loomis in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Samia started her own independent mobile large animal veterinary service in 2004. While she worked primarily with horses, mules, and ponies in Placer, Nevada, and Sacramento Counties, she also worked with commercial livestock producers throughout the region.

An avid horsewoman (and later, mule-woman) herself, Samia enjoyed riding and showing horses and mules, including her mule Boomerang. In her veterinary practice, she became known as someone who would treat “long-ears” (mules and donkeys). While her daughters were young, she volunteered as a 4-H horse and sheep group leader, sharing her knowledge and love of animals with Placer County youth. She showed mules in local horse shows, as well as at Bishop Mule Days. And she enjoyed trail riding with her family and friends.

Samia and her husband Dan also raised sheep throughout their 33 year marriage, ultimately starting Flying Mule Sheep Company in 2006. Sami always raised the bummer lambs - in February and March, she typically bottle-fed several lambs (or more!) in the family’s living room! She also cared for the ranch’s herding and livestock guardian dogs.

Throughout her career, Samia was active in community organizations. In addition to serving as a 4-H leader, she served as President of the Placer High School Future Farmers of America Boosters and the Placer High School Lady Hillmen Soccer Boosters. She was appointed to the 20th District Agricultural Association (Gold Country Fair) Board of Directors by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2018, and served as the board representative to the Gold Country Fair Junior Livestock Association, helping to manage the fair’s junior livestock shows and auctions.

Samia is survived by her husband Dan Macon (of Auburn, CA), her daughters Lara Macon and Emma Macon, and her sister Suzi Zaki. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, CA, on Saturday, December 23, 2023. For more information, please contact Dan Macon at flyingmulefarm@gmail.com or (530) 305-3270.

In lieu of flowers, the Macon Family invites you to contribute to the Samia Macon Memorial Scholarship through the Placer High School FFA Chapter. Checks can be made out to Placer High FFA Boosters, 275 Orange Street, Auburn, CA 95603 (Attn: Sami Macon Memorial Scholarship).