As some of you may know, we lost a dear family member this past week, my cousin Steve. The loss of Steve not only hits home because we have lost a great man, but because we lost my dad in a similar fashion. I was twenty when we lost my dad to cancer. It's been difficult for me to know the pain and loss that his wife and children are experiencing right now. Although his kids are grown, that does not mean that the pain of losing their father is any less difficult.
Zack and I will be traveling to Salem, OR on Friday with my mom and brother Clint to attend a family get-together to celebrate the life of Steve.
Please pray for his family...that they may find some peace during this very difficult time. I spoke with Mary Lou (his wife) yesterday and she sounded well. She is a very strong and faithful woman of God and I look up to her with great respect. What you may not know is that Mary Lou was the one who gently suggested to Jess that she should consider allowing us to adopt Zack, since she knew how desperately we wanted to be parents. She was such a support to everyone involved and I will never forget her kind words of encouragement she so freely offered.
Also, please pray that Zack does well on the 9 hour drive, as he did not do well on our last 3 1/2 hour trip to the coast.
Steven Verl Driscol
06/07/1948 - 07/15/2008
Steve Driscol, 60, went to heaven on Tuesday after courageously battling cancer. He was born in McMinnville to Norwood and Marie Driscol. He married Mary Greek on May 30, 1970 in Sacramento. They settled in Salem where they raised their daughter, Kimberlee and son, Timothy, in a loving and nurturing home. Steve was bigger than life and had a long career in the manufactured housing industry. Steve spent most of his career working for Silvercrest Industries where he started as a salesperson and retired as Vice President and General Manager in Woodburn. Steve worked hard to improve the industry. He served as the first Chairman of the Salem Home Show after it was given to OMHA Board of Directors for many years, and was President from 1985 to 1986. In 1984 the industry honored Steve with the Industry Person of the Year Award in recognition of his many contributions to the industry. Steve was a beloved friend and colleague to all in the industry. He was mentor to his son-in-law, Aaron, and played a big role in the success of his new company, TEKFAB, Inc. Steve retired in 1998 in a peaceful country residence with his wife, Mary near Turner.
Steve was virtually born with a fishing pole in his hand. This long held family tradition was passed down from his father who hand-crafted his own one of a kind poles in his workshop and is carried on avidly by his son, Tim. Some of his favorite fishing spots were Thomas Creek, the Santiam River, Detroit Lake, and the Breitenbush River. He enjoyed fishing for trout the most and considered a dry "Adams" fly and a cool river to be one of the best combinations possible. Steve enjoyed teaching his children to fish, crab and golf. He was an ardent golfer and a member of Creekside Golf Club where he loved to play rounds with his friends and hangout in the clubhouse. In the winter, he enjoyed bowling. In the last year of his life, Steve tapped into his creative side and found peace and enjoyment in carving wood with his brother-in-law David "Gravyboat" Greek at Walker Studio near Turner.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Driscol; his daughter, Kim Roth and her husband, Aaron Roth; and grandchildren, Amy, Anna and Zane; his son, Timothy Steven Driscol and his wife, Harpreet Hans; and his brother, "Punky" Driscol. Steve was a wonderful husband, father and friend. He was an adoring "Papa" to his grandchildren and found great joy in watching them play, learn, and grow. His friends remember him as always putting family first. He will be greatly missed.
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