Many of us went to school our entire 12 years with Steve. He was one of my best friends during Elementary and Jr. High. I played sports with him all along the way and through High School. I lost track of him, as well as many others, once I left the area and went into the Military. I have thought about him often and wondered where he ended up. Now I know. Does anyone know the circumstances of his death?
Ethington, Steven Paul - Steven Paul Ethington, 57, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away June 26, 2008. He was born on May 13, 1951. Survivors include his two daughters; ...
Published in The Arizona Republic on 7/1/2008
I was also like a neigbor to Steve. Preschool I was invited to Birthday Parties by his family. Then the Bus picked me up on Broadway and 56th everyday, it would Pick up Steve, then Homs, then Whatley and take us to Mitchell everyday. At Gilliland we had classes and at THS we did nothing. He was in Sports with you guys and I was in The Concert Choir. It bothered me to see he was deceased to
He and Terri and their girls lived accross the street from us 23yrs. ago in south Tempe. His oldest used to babysit our 4 kids. Our boys were playing baseball in the front yard one day and broke a window. We made them do chores to raise money to replace it. Steve came over and replaced it for nothing and they got to keep the money. He was their hero that day.
I am uncertain of most of the details, including where and when . I spoke with a former business aquaintance of Steve's who told me that he was shot and killed by police when he failed to yield a weapon. He had, so I was told, experienced the loss of his business and marriage at some point before this incident occurred. The rest of the story repeated to me was conjecture and opinion and not verifiable. I had done business with Steve in the past and always had a good experience. He was always reliable, fair, and a straight shooter. He also was the only guy in Mrs. Redden's 2nd grade class bigand strong enough to carry others on his shoulders. With me on his back we took on some 4th graders at lunch recess one day and won the race before we all got caught and sidelined until the class bell rang. Funny how memories come popping back up.
Our THS basketball team (Freshman?) had the good fortune to have Steve on the team for a while after football season ended, and Steve brought a whole new dimension to the games. The opposing team members actually were scared of him because of his wild, physical style, diving for the ball, taking no guff, totally fearless (and like Jerry Kerr, enjoying every minute). These couple of months were my only opportunity to get to know Steve, and for a short time, but the memory of this guy has always stayed with me. The world will miss him.
I have a special memory of Steve from grade school. He decided he was going to come and see me during summer vacation. Well, he showed up at my house on a Shetland pony half his size. He was holding on to the mane and slapping the horse with his hand and yelling all the way. I was kind of in awe -- my knight in shining armor, I thought. He wound up playing football with my brothers as all my boyfriends wound up doing and I was deflated. Steve was a fun guy and one never knew what he might do. This memory always brings a smile to my face.
Being Tari Miller's younger brother, let me tell you I have so many 'Steve Ethington' stories, there isn't enough room to write them all down. Steve was a big brother to me and my brothers and always looked out for us. He will always be family to me. He took us hunting, taught us how to pull dove's heads off and rip out their breasts when we were kids. One time Steve had us go with him to tend to his dad's cattle. I was 13 and he had me chase down the orneriest calf of the bunch after showing me how to bulldog it to the ground. That damn calf drug me across the entire field and I could hear Steve's loud shrill voice laughing and saying, 'Get him Kev!!! Kick his ass!!!' I finally pulled him down and Steve put the anti-biotic in its eye. Then he wanted me to bulldog a full grown steer and lance its boil. I couldn't do that, so he did it and kept gagging violently when he lanced the boil. He was a madman, but always so fun to be around. He'd get you kicked out of every bar you went into with him. The best thing I remember about him was how good he treated my mom. That's all it took for her. She loved him too. We miss you 'Big Steve'!
Steve was my best freind In fact I was closer to his family then I was with mine He was like a brother to me Irene and Bear were like my parents for many years I lost contact with the family I did it on purpose As I got older I decided to clean up my life So I had to leave Tempe and alot of good freinds be hind The problem was we just knew how to have to much fun and when we were together we got in way to much trouble. Yesterday I was thinking about the old days and got on line I got a big surprize First I found Grants name than Richards then Garys and then Steves I feel I have lost four brothers in the same day If any one has any information or would like to share please contact me at md palmer52@cox. net I would lve to hear from any one
Steve was my best freind In fact I was closer to his family then I was with mine He was like a brother to me Irene and Bear were like my parents for many years I lost contact with the family I did it on purpose As I got older I decided to clean up my life So I had to leave Tempe and alot of good freinds be hind The problem was we just knew how to have to much fun and when we were together we got in way to much trouble. Yesterday I was thinking about the old days and got on line I got a big surprize First I found Grants name than Richards then Garys and then Steves I feel I have lost four brothers in the same day If any one has any information or would like to share please contact me at md palmer52@cox. net I would lve to hear from any one
