Steven Douglas Stinson, 52, passed away on July 17, 2014 at home after 2 ½ years of courageously battling leiomyosarcoma. Steve was born on Dec. 10, 1961 to Doug Stinson and Fae Marie Beck in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Steve was a man of many passions. He lived life boldly. An overriding passion was trees. He was a member of FFA in high school and spent weekends and summers working on his family’s tree farm. After high school he worked on tree planting crews and was also a faller. In 1992 he decided he wanted to make a larger impact and went back to school. He earned a bachelors in environmental science at The Evergreen State College and a masters in Silviculture from the University of Washington. He was the first administrator for the Washington DNR Small Forest Landowner Office. Steve also made many trips to Washington D.C. representing small forest landowners. In 2002 he formed the Family Forest Foundation where he was the Executive Director. In recent years he managed the Cowlitz Ridge Tree Farm. Steve played as hard as he worked. He was passionate about food—food from the land. He loved finding oysters, venison, salmon, crab, chanterelles, and trailing blackberries.
And he liked to bring people and food together. He made muffins for early morning meetings to soften the contentious discussions, 30 apple pies for his own wedding guests, grilled salmon and oysters for summer gatherings at the tree farm. Recently he’d been mastering bread and pizza. No meal was complete without a microbrew.
Steve loved music. ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Steve Earle. He loved discovering new artists and listening to live music at a variety of venues from Portland to Seattle.
But Steve’s deepest passion was his love for Lou Jean. They met in Toledo in 1988 and married in 1995. Their bond was strong. They danced, cooked, loved their dogs and enjoyed white water canoeing, trips to the beach, fishing and rowing lakes. They gathered their families and friends.
Trees, food, people, music, Lou Jean—Steve was a passionate man. His passion lives on in the hearts of his family and friends.
Steve is survived by his wife, Lou Jean Clark; parents, Doug Stinson and Fae Marie Beck; sisters, Ann (Tom) and Julie (Eric); and nephews, Timber and Griffin; brothers-in-law, George and Bruce Clark; and sister-in-law, Lana Clark.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Porteus and Esther Stinson and Clifford and Bernice Beck; father and mother-in-laws, George and Noma Clark.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donating to the Washington Farm Forestry Association, PO Box 1010, Chehalis, WA 98532 or Assured Hospice, 2120 N Park St, Ste B, Centralia, WA 98531.
A celebration of Steve’s life will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. at 519 Collins Rd, Toledo, WA. A potluck, live music and bonfire will follow. If you are joining the potluck, please bring a dish and the beverage of your choice.
