Steven Charles Shaw Jr.

Steven (Steve) Shaw Jr. passed away peacefully on January 3rd, 2026, in Loveland, Colorado, surrounded by his family. He was reunited with his mother Diane, grandparents, Mack and Edna Hall, Charles and Eleanor Shaw, and granddaughter Violet.

Steven was born on December 4, 1967, in Memphis, Tennessee, to proud parents Steven and Diane Shaw. Growing up with a father in the military, Steven moved around before eventually settling in Michie, Tennessee. Steven attended Adamsville High School in Adamsville, Tennessee, Class of 1986. He was an accomplished football star and was always so proud of his on-field achievements. He still holds his school record for most tackles in a season.

He often referred to himself as a living legend, making his daughters cringe in the process. When he needed a boost, he could be found blasting "Tom Sawyer" by Rush, a song he played for himself before walking onto the field to play a game. Steven emphatically loved football. He could tell you any statistic for any player and any team, but especially his beloved Dallas Cowboys and his adopted team, the Denver Broncos. Steven loved Payton Manning and was a Tennessee fan for life.

After high school, Steven enlisted in the US Navy, following in his father's footsteps. After boot camp and Corps school in San Diego, California, Steven was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Millington, Tennessee. He was always very proud to be a veteran.

Steven had a successful career in the Heating and Air Conditioning field. He started in sales and management, and eventually ran his own company. He loved meeting celebrities working in California. Steve loved his job. His peers once recognized Steve for selling a million dollars' worth of equipment in a calendar year. He always found friends among his co-workers, often creating lifelong friendships. And to this day, you could call him up to have your AC diagnosed, which he was happy to do over the phone. And then tell you he still had it.

In May of 1994, Steven welcomed his first daughter, Kaila, and his second daughter, Amy, followed later in 1996. Becoming a dad was one of his most significant accomplishments. He was a fantastic girl Dad. He would always proudly wear his latest manicure and pedicure. As his girls grew, they all stayed incredibly close to him and each other. In 2021, his granddaughter Ellie was born. From the moment she arrived, they have been best friends, always going on adventures together, whether it be just to the store or out for a happy meal. Their bond was a beautiful thing. In addition, in 2024, he welcomed two bonus grandsons, James and Alex, when his daughter Amy married her husband, Ryan. Their daily video chats fostered a strong bond with Papa and his boys. Steven’s love of being a Papa rivaled his love of football.

Steven fought a long and hard four-year battle with metastatic colon cancer. He truly embodied strength, hope, and resilience throughout his struggles. He is survived by his daughters, Kaila (Connor) Schlaff and Amy (Ryan) Wiehr, and his grandchildren, Ellie, James, and Alex. He also survived by his dad, Steve Shaw, bonus mom Janet, brother Dale (Anne Marie), sister Tammy (Jimbo), and bonus siblings Brian, Cheryl, and Stephanie. He leaves his nieces and nephews, Riley Ferguson, Nic Shaw, Avery Shaw, Brayden Ferguson, Rebecca Shaw, Davis Clarkson, Kenley Clarkson, and Andrew Ferguson. He also leaves his beloved Heilen Perez who brought the last smile to his face.

“Even in our sleep, pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart. And in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.” -Aeschylus

Steven, we will miss you for the rest of our days. Rest easy, big brother, we got it from here.

A celebration of life will be held in Tennessee at a later date.