Obituary: Stephen Edward Arthur

Stephen Edward Arthur (Steve/Ornery) was born Feb. 19, 1930, in Fairplay, Colo., to Loren and Mary Arthur. He passed away peacefully on Aug. 2, 2013, at his home in Rangely with his beloved wife of 54 years, Nancy, at his side. He was 83.
Steve was raised with his younger brother, Jack, at the ranch on East Divide Creek near Silt, for most of his childhood. He was graduated from Rifle High School and continued to work on the ranch. He then took a job at Climax for several years in the molybdenum mine there.
Steve enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served as tank commander in Austria during the Korean Conflict. Upon his discharge, he was awarded the Army Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
Steve married Nancy Jo Evans on Aug. 22, 1958, at the Methodist Church in Rifle. After they were married, the young couple made their home in Rifle, where Steve worked on oil rigs up Divide Creek with his brother for a time.
Steve and Nancy had two sons, John Edward and Robert Loren. Johnny passed away at the age of 20 months in Rifle. Rob passed away in an oil field accident in Wyoming just shy of his 22nd birthday.
Steve worked for several years at HiWay Lockers and at City Market in Rifle as a meat cutter. Then he had the opportunity to work for Equity Oil, spending time on rigs at Piceance Creek and in the Rangely Field.
After Equity, Steve worked for Cascade Natural Gas on Uncle Bob Mountain near Silt. He was then transferred to Rangely when Cascade put the compressor station on Dragon Trail and Douglas Creek.
Steve, Nancy and Rob moved to Rangely in 1972, purchasing the house they lived in until he passed away.
Steve was a member of the Rangely Museum Society and the Rio Blanco Archaeological Society. He loved hunting and thoroughly enjoyed working with rock art replicas of local Native American petroglyphs and pictographs.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; three sister-in-laws; Janet (Michael) Downing, Laurie (Orville) Drussel and Betty Arthur. He also leaves seven nieces and nephews along with many other loving relatives and friends.
Steve was preceded in death by: his two sons, John Edward Arthur and Robert Loren Arthur; his parents, Loren and Mary Arthur; and a brother, John (Jack) Arthur.
A memorial celebration was held at the Recreation Center in Rangely, Colo. on Aug. 7, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A brief graveside service was held at Rose Hill Cemetery at 3 p.m. in Rifle following the memorial celebration. Steve was buried next to his two boys.
Services were under the direction of the Ashley Valley Funeral Home. Online condolences may be shared at AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com