Stephen Lawrence Reese

Most recently Stephen was retired after 22 years with the Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, as a Intelligence Specialist in the Los Angeles Field Division and HIDTA, and three years forward-deployed to Afghanistan in opposition to drug trafficking and manufacturing.

My brother joined the DEA after a short stint at the Federal Protective Service, and after a varied career working in the airlines industry and as an ex-pat for defense contractors in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. While in Egypt he was in a CH-46 Chinook Helicopter taking part in the Operation Badr Victory Parade, overflying the Presidential reviewing stand when members of Egyptian Islamic Jihad assassinated President Anwar es-Sadat. It was a tense few days until we were able to reestablish contact.

Earlier in his career Stephen worked for Northrop Aircraft building F-5, F-20 and YF-17 aircraft, was a member of the Los Angeles Sheriff Department Search and Rescue team at the Malibu station, was a firefighter paramedic for the Palos Verdes Estates Fire Department, and attended the Ross School of Medicine in Dominica, where he picked up pocket money flying gigs for National Geographic. He was a licensed pilot, a SCUBA instructor, a paramedic, attended the Rio Hondo Police Academy, and was an FAA-certified aircraft mechanic.

My brother was a bit of a Renaissance Man, and lived life with few regrets or apologies. Never one to seek the limelight, he always tried to give his all for the teams he was a part of and supported. He lived a quiet life after returning from Afghanistan and moved here to Maricopa in 2019 to be closer to family. He was a firm supporter of President Donald Trump and a great admirer of Elon Musk. He loved Rottweilers, especially his beloved Sam. He was a loyal and loving brother, son and uncle. He believed in God and Jesus Christ, but was not overtly religious, and checked the 'Lutheran' box of our mother's faith when asked.

His preference for when he was gone was to keep things very simple, and for his remains to be cremated and scattered over Nature's Beauty.

Stephen is survived by his mother, Carolyn of Maricopa, brother Don and sister-in-law Marita of Maricopa, brother Brian and sister-in-law Ivette of Placentia, California, and several nieces and nephews.

No memorial service is currently planned, but the immediate family would like to encourage friends and family in lieu of flowers to make a donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the Arizona Military Family Relief Fund, The 100 Club of Arizona, the Valley Humane Society, and Pinal County Animal Care and Control, or any similar first responder, military support or animal rescue/welfare organization where your dollars will make a real difference.