Stephen Barnes

Stephen Michael Barnes
October 28, 1954 - July 15, 2025

Stephen Michael Barnes was born on October 28,1954 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Kenneth Lee and Jan Larue (Farley) Barnes. Steve's early years were spent moving around the country due to his father being an airline pilot. This upbringing sparked a lifelong love for adventure, travel, and aviation.

After high school, Steve built a dune buggy and drove it to California. He lived simply, camping along the roadside, and embracing freedom and self-reliance. He attended several colleges before graduating from Arizona State College with a bachelor's degree in business and eventually earned his own pilot's license. Steve was a natural entrepreneur. He moved many more times due to his career and different commercial real estate investments and zest for adventure.

At age 44, he met and then married the long-awaited love of his life, Tara, on September 26,1998 in Grand Junction, CO. Then, at the age of 55, Steve met the love of his eternal life, Jesus Christ, as his Lord and Savior. From then on, he always stated that day became the "best day of his life", with his wife the 2nd, followed by the addition of his beautiful daughters Deena, Lara and Sarah, knowing it was God who brought them together and gave him his family! He enjoyed spending time hiking, biking, kayaking, boating and snow skiing with friends and family. He loved to plan, organize and build. His creativity and drive were matched by his deep love for his wife, daughters and family. They were the center of his world. He personally built a home in Florida and then their final home in Bixby, OK where they spent the last 15 years together with their 3 daughters. Upon finishing their home, he then went back to school for his CDL and purchased a Volvo dump truck, driving for Pro Trucking at the Anchor Stone quarry in Owasso. His wife and daughters were always filled with pride every time they passed him while he was hard at work on the road. He provided for his family faithfully until his retirement on March 26th, 2025, the day he received his diagnosis. He cared for his parents as well, when they moved into the 1st floor suite he finished for them so that they could be close to his family in their last years. His father Ken passed at home exactly two months before him. He loved deeply, and wisely protected and provided for his girls, raising them to love God and their Country and to always "watch their back".

He is survived by his wife Tara, daughter Deena (Kobe) McCarter and grandson, Kobe Jr., daughter Lara (Eyad) Maswadeh, and daughter Sarah. He is also survived by his mother, Jan Barnes, brothers Kenneth Jr (Taryn) and William, his uncle Jim Farley and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Barnes Sr. and his nephew Daniel Barnes.

He passed away with his family by his side on Tuesday July 15th, 2025 at the age of 70. When Steve was given the diagnosis of cancer with only months to live, he never wavered in his faith. He was thankful for the 70 years he had been given. He knew those months were a gift, a time to fully enjoy and spend time with those he loved with time to say goodbye. He lived them to the fullest.

A Celebration of Life will be at Evergreen Baptist Church on Saturday August 2nd at 11:00 in the Venue.

in Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Steve's honor to Evergreen Baptist Church Missions Fund.

Arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt Glenpool-Bixby Funeral Service & Cremation Care Centers, 1329 East 151st Street, Glenpool, OK 74033. Family and friends may share memories and condolences at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com.