Steven Lee Saunders
February 1946 – June 2022
Steven Lee Saunders passed away peacefully on Friday, June 17th, 2022.
Steve was born on February 2, 1946, in Miami, Oklahoma. The only son of G. E. (Bert) and Pauline Saunders, Steve graduated from Putnam City High School in 1964, then briefly studied engineering at the Oklahoma State University, before entering the Navy in August of 1966. He served his country honorably on active duty for four years, acting, among other duties, as an Air Traffic Controller and firefighter on Midway Island, and remained in the Navy Reserve for two years after returning home. Steve returned to school and began working on a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Oklahoma.
Steve married his high school sweetheart, Linda Lucille Pearson, on June 23rd,1967. After Steve received his Pharmacy Degree, the young couple moved to Muskogee in 1974. Steve began working as a pharmacist in the family drug store, Kirk’s Drug, where he stayed for the majority of his nearly 50 year career.
Steve and Linda built a wonderful life in Muskogee, welcoming three children, and eventually five grandchildren into their family. They remained loyal members of the First United Methodist Church of Muskogee, and kept active in civic clubs and organizations. Like his father before him, Steve was a distinguished member of Muskogee Masonic Lodge #28 and the McAlester Scottish Rite Grand Lodge of Oklahoma, where he served in several capacities, and was invested as a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour. Never one to miss an opportunity to bring a smile, Steve also donated his time as a Bedouin Shrine clown. He was immensely proud when both of his sons joined the Masonic Lodge as his brothers.
Known as Papa to his grandchildren, Steve could always be counted on to share a smile, a joke, a hug, or to offer a shoulder to cry on. He will be dearly missed by those who survive him, his wife Linda Saunders of Oklahoma City; sister Rebecca (Becky) Creveling of Seminole, FL; son Wesley and his wife Joyce Saunders of Oklahoma City; son Scott Saunders of Oklahoma City; and daughter Lauren and her husband Drew Schulz of Cushing; and grandchildren Emma Saunders, Abbi Rose Saunders, Alexander Saunders, Blayze Schulz, and Landon Schulz.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, July 16th, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church of Muskogee. There will be reception immediately following the service.