Stephen “Steve” Wheeler Creekmore, Jr. passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at the age of 92. He was resting comfortably at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and was surrounded by family. He was a full-time resident of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He was born on December 19, 1925 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The much loved and only son of Stephen Wheeler Creekmore, Sr and Julien Hall Creekmore. He is preceded in death by his parents; his older sister, Virginia Ann Creekmore McGehee and younger sister, Emily Creekmore Fink and his son, Douglas Omar Smith, Jr.
Steve was a lifelong avid golfer who grew up on a 9-hole golf course in Fort Smith called “Rolling Knowles” that he and his father built with mules, plows and some shovels. His golf associations include many years as a Director and President of the Trans Mississippi Golf Association and as a member of the US Society of Seniors. During his career he won numerous local and regional golf championships, including the 1968 Arkansas State Amateur. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Captain of the University Golf Team.
During World War II he served in the Naval Air Corp and was stationed in San Francisco when the war ended. He re-enlisted in the Merchant Marines and was shipped out to Japan on the Victory Ship “San Mateo” where he remained for several months. Upon his return, he worked with his family at the Creekmore Insurance Company in Ft. Smith and later was instrumental in the early development of the Senior Housing industry.
Private burial will be in Forest Park Cemetery under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.
The service is being held at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas at 11:00 AM Friday, June 15,2018 with a reception to follow at Hardscrabble Country Club. He requested that his honorary pall bearers include all his current and former golfing buddies.
He is survived by his wife, Lynn Lambert Creekmore; by his son, Stephen Wheeler Creekmore, III; his daughters, Carolyn Stewart Creekmore, Sara Smith Fant and Catherine Creekmore Merritt, their spouses Kyle Feild Creekmore and Matthew Harrison Merritt; his grandchildren, Stephen Wheeler Creekmore, IV, Hunter Feild Creekmore, Hutton Fant Harsh, Emily Anne Fant, Frances Adair Fant, Margaret Lynn Merritt, Mallory O’Hara Merritt, Ella Cate Merritt; three great grandchildren and his beloved cousin, Sara Lee Peters.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the First Tee of Fort Smith Arkansas, Chris Murphy (Executive Director), the K-9’s for Warriors of Ponte Vedra, Florida and the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com
