Tom Stegner

Tom is preceded in death by his loving wife, Lee, his parents and his brother, Don. He is survived by his son, Tim Stegner and wife, Jessica, his grandsons, Forrest and Chance and his brother, Phil and sister, Joyce. Thomas Matthew Stegner was born in Boonville, Missouri, 8-16-41, to James William and Thelma Lucille (Huckabay) Stegner. James was in the funeral business and owned Stegner Funeral Home. He passed away when Tom was very young. Thelma went on to marry Bill Merritt and that union lasted close to 35 years. In 1965, Tom married (Nancy) “Lee” Ann Talbert. They were over-joyed to add their son, Tim, to their family in 1972. Tom and Lee were married over 40 years when she passed in 2005. Tom was part of several civic organizations such as the Masons and Shriners and he was in public service for most of his life. He was in the United States Air Force from 1963-1967 and starting in 1970 he spent 25 years as a firefighter with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. He was on duty and part of a team of Oklahoma City firefighters and first responders to get to the survivors of the Murray Building bombing in downtown Oklahoma City, April 19, 1995. As a firefighter, he was one of the first to be trained in the use of the 'Jaws of Life' tool used to help so many in peril and was a skilled underwater diver trained in recovery. He founded Woodcrest Volunteer Fire Department in 1972, Oak Cliff V.F.D. in 1982 and Sooner V.F.D. in 1996. Tom accomplished many things in his 77 years. He enjoyed taking his grandsons fishing and hunting, raising Beagles, was a master at the bar-b-q, and enjoyed many outdoor activities with his family, including taking their Jeeps out into the wilderness and finding paths and rocks to climb. Viewing will be Sunday, February 10, at Bill Merritt Funeral Service, 6201 N.W. 39th Expressway, Bethany, Oklahoma, 73008. Monday, February 11, at 12:00 pm there will be a Remembrance Memorial Meal at Woodcrest Baptist Church, 11300 South Douglas Boulevard, Guthrie, (on Douglas between Seward and Waterloo Rd.) Visitation with the family is invited from 12:00-1:30 pm at which time viewing will also be available. All who wish to attend are welcome. Following the luncheon, a funeral service will be held in the sanctuary of the church. A graveside service will follow at Summit View Cemetery, 1808 N. Pine, (north of Noble) where Tom will be honored by the military and Masons.