Stephen R. Bryan

Stephen Ray “Steve” Bryan passed away September 12, 2023, age 78, at Circle of Life Hospice Hospital, Bentonville, AR. Steve was born March 6, 1945, in Lawton, OK to Walter and Ruth Bryan. Steve graduated from Clinton High, Clinton, OK in 1963 and continued his education at Oklahoma Christian College, OKC and later Central State University, where he earned a B. A. in Commercial Art. Steve met his wife Judy Elaine Mollet while at OCC. (He designed the logo for Welch State Bank 1982 which is still in use today) Steve served his country in the United States Army as a medical corpsman in the Special Forces after completing Basic Airborne training at Fort Bragg, NC. His last training was with the 7th Special Forces group. Steve worked in commercial art for 2 years in OKC before moving with his wife Judy and son Greg to West Plains, Missouri, where he taught middle school art. Their second son Jason was born in West Plains. The family moved from West Plains to Elk City, OK where he farmed with Judy’s father. After 3 years he moved to Craig County where the family purchased their own farm/ranch, where they have lived since. Tiring of hauling water to a cistern to supply water for the farm house, Steve was instrumental in forming the Craig County Water Board District 3. It was a happy day when he didn’t have to haul water from Bluejacket in his old flatbed truck with its top mounted water tank to the cistern at the top of the hill to supply gravity fed water to his house. During his earliest college days in Edmond, he was able to convince local landowners for permission to hunt and fish on their properties. His interests in hunting, fishing, and sharing these passions with his grandsons has never waned. He was most at home when away from the city and out in nature. Steve was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Ruth Bryan, his grandson John William Bryan, and sister-in-law Johanne Bryan. Steve is survived by his wife of 57 years, Judy Elaine of the home, his sons Greg Allen (Rebecca) Bryan of Centerton, AR, Jason Adam (Rachel) Bryan of Seneca, MO; grandsons Morgan, Christian, Easton and Ellis; brothers Philip (Jeri) Bryan Edmond, OK, Mark Allen Bryan, Welch, OK; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins from coast to coast and border to border. Besides his love of God, his family and his country, Steve had one other great love, his miniature dachshund Hilda. They spent many an hour together riding around the farm in his truck. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the: African Mission Fund, c/o Wilshire Church of Christ, 400 E. Wilshire Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105; Neosho Christian Schools, 900 W. South St, Neosho, MO 64850; or Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, AR 72712. Visitation will be 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. Services are 2:00 PM, Friday, September 15, at the Church of Christ in Miami with Mr. Ron Babbit officiating. Interment will follow at the New Salem Cemetery East of Seneca under the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami. Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mr. Bryan's Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

Stephen R. Bryan

March 6, 1945 - September 12, 2023