Please click the following link for Steve Stidham's Obituaie and Guest Book.

http://www.legacy.com/heraldbanner/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=126679482

My prayers go out to his wonderful family and clients. He was a wonderful and helpful man to us when we first got into the dog hobby.
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Julie
ADCH Watermark's Skeeter AX, AXJ
ADCH Casey's Dobber AX, AXJ (loved for near 16 years and missed terribly)
Casey's Shasta (rest well, old friend)
and the pup...Watermark's Speed Trap!

Jerri Lea and Family,
My heart goes out to you at this difficult time and in the days to come. I respected Steve so much as a person along with his accomplishments and integrity. I appreciated his assistance with my retriever training goals more than words can describe. I will always remember him fondly.

~ Terrie Tomlinson, Tuttle, Oklahoma

This is horrible news. Steve was a super guy and liked by all. He will be greatly missed.

Mike Briggs

Steve was a friend of mine. Prayers out to all. I was going to call him tonight to talk about something.
He loved to talk football and I will really miss him.

all our prayers
David & Bessie Jansma

There wasn't another burnt orange-bleeding soul on earth that could me more $heet about my Texas Aggies than Steve Stidham. The most impressive thing was, he could tell me as much about Aggie football as he could his beloved Texas Longhorns.

Steve was accomplished in his field; always a true professional, and as willing to help as much as any pro we've had at our tests, or that I'd seen at others. He will be missed.

Hook 'em Steve.

Steve was a true gentleman of our sport - and way too young to leave us. His dogs always looked great. No matter how his dog performed, you could count on Steve's great attitude to continue. If one of his dogs failed, he would be back to talking about Texas Longhorn football before he ever left the line.

He will be missed - especially on the Texas hunt test circuit and at the upcoming MN.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, who we have all heard so much about over the years.

Our thoughts and prayers are with this family and clients. I had the pleasure of judging his dogs on several occasions and he was always a class act. He will be missed.

Billy and Janet Reid

It's a say day when we lose someone of Steve's caliber in this sport.

It was not uncommon to see 7 of the 9 Master dogs that passed an event be from Steve's truck. Truly an excellent trainer and handler with class, humor, and integrity.

Also, pretty hard to beat a good Steve Stidham story from the police days when he got going.

We'll miss you Steve.

- - Lauren
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Lauren Hays, M.S., CAAB
Austin Canine Consulting, Inc.
www.austincanineconsulting.com

I am total shock to hear of this tragic loss! My prayers go out to Steve's family, his clients and all the dogs he trained that loved him so much. As a new person getting started, I would watch handlers and dogs trying to learn. Steve was someone I admired and looked up to in this sport. His dogs have the best line manners, love to work and are automatic at any level! Steve was never to busy to answer my stupid newbie questions and help me learn to get better. He was never to busy to watch and tell me when I messed up, and tell me when I did good. When I go to hunt tests, I would always go find him to watch his dogs run and learn. Gosh...I just saw him at Ravenna...I just can't believe he is gone! He cared about helping others get better. I loved hearing his dog training stories, and listening to him in a group of people talk about dogs...And you could always hear Steve, his voice carried and his laugh jolly! This is a huge loss in our sport and I am so sorry to hear of this. Steve talked often about his love for his wife, his dogs (both client & his own...he loved them the same), and his job. He will be greatly missed by many! His passion for this sport was contagious to me and I hope someday I am half the handler that Steve was.

Our deepest condolences,
Karen & Alex Goff
Heart of Texas Retriever Club & Waterloo Amateur Retriever Club members

I met Steve many times when I was running hunt tests, and I was marshall at several hunt tests where he competed. One could always count on his professional actions, and his dogs showed that he was an excellent trainer. They would always go to the line in a way that you could see that they had not been abused. Steve was a great asset to the sport, and a fine gentleman at all times. My condolences to his family.
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Steve Low

The dog training world lost a great dog trainer today. Sleep well, my dear friend. We will miss you.

The Steinman Family

There is no way to express my feelings when I heard this sad, sad, news. I remember the day that I met Steve, as clearly as our last conversation just a few weeks ago. I SO respect him as a man of passion; for both his craft, and what must be the most wonderful woman in his wife Jerri Lea. Not one conversation ever went by without the mention of Jerri Lea. Steve was the epitomy of loyalty.

I sit here in both sadness, and regret of the fact that I never had the chance to share my respect for him as a man.

I remember my first HT back after a 2 1/2 yr hiatus. I heard that bellowing voice in the distance; and it wasn't long before I heard, "well coach, good to see ya back, got any good recruits for the Horns"? He always wanted to talk Longhorn or Cy-Fair (my team) athletics. He truly cared.

You always set the standard my friend. You will be missed. Rest well!!!

David Maddox

What a terrible loss to our community. I feel compelled to share how I first met Steve. It was on my winter training trip years ago in Texas, and got stuck in the mud at a hunt test. Not only was Steve the first one to offer assistance, but he also explained the peculiarities of Texas mud as compared to any other type of mud.

Steve was always friendly, and I would make it a point to seek him out whenever I saw that he was entered at a club hunt test or the Master National. We would catch up on the previous year, and talk about the year to come.

Who will ever forget Steve singing the "Texas" song at the closing ceremonies in Minnesota this year?

Steve Stidham was truly an ambassador for our sport.

With our deepest condolences to Steve's family, friends, and clients.
Mike & Sandy Berube

I met Steve briefly in the field when Goose and I were running a master test that would give him his title. Steve was in a holding blind behind us and we chatted for about 10 minutes while they were rebirding. I was always impressed with Steve because he always had dogs in the 3rd series of a test. Sometimes it seemed like he had half the dogs left after a hard 1st and 2nd series. He was such a nice person and a tough competitor.

Our prayers go out to his family. We are so sorry for your loss.

Paul

Steve was one great dog trainer who did the basics on many great dogs including Rebel, Mercy, and many more. Steve's transition to hunt tests was a smooth one and he found great joy in being successful in the new venue. But make no mistake, Steve's dogs were always trained to perform at the highest level, no matter where they played

Rest in peace, Steve.

My condolences to the family.

Tim West

Sad news to hear of Steves passing. He had such an impact on the retriever world. We enjoyed seeing him at so many events over the years. Steve always had time to give advice, answer questions, and tell some great stories.
He will be missed.

--Sib and Lee Anne Sibila

I only met Steve once, a few weeks ago at the Bryan/College Station hunt test.
I'm very new to this game but Steve came up and introduced himself and we talked alone for nearly thirty minutes. We talked about training and of course what I've come to find out was a common passion of ours, the University of Texas Longhorns.
He made an impression on me in that single encounter.
My sincere sympathy to his family and friends.
Rest in Peace Steve and Hook'em.

--Big Jake

I first met Steve back in his field trial days. Some of you might not know but he was the one that trained "Rebel with a cause". In fact Rebel won his first open with steve handling. He also trained and ran Linda Noga's "Annie". He was an outstanding hunt test trainer. I always ranked him as one of the best! I will probably miss the most his friendly and casual personality that he brought to the events we ran together. Having competed against him in FT's and ran with him in Hunt tests it was always fun to have him there. My condolences to his family and clients. He will be sorely missed in the retriever community.

--Lonny Taylor

I will just echo what everyone has already said, I too met Steve while running hunt tests. He was always friendly, had time to answer questions, and was a true gentleman. He was an excellent dog man and few loved college football more than him. It is true, this sport has lost a great one.

My prayers and condolences go out to his family, friends, and clients.

-Jay Hayter

I never hunt tested with Steve, but I know when he came to a trial, he came to play! esp with young dogs. He had my respect.

-- LESTER LANGLEY

Nothing but respect for Steve and his accomplishments. Prayers up for his family and friends. The Texas hunt test circuit will be a little less colorful with his absence.

-- Zack

I am deeply saddened to hear of Steve's passing. I knew Steve through his volunteer efforts with Ducks Unlimited. He was a good man that was always there for the ducks.

He didn't beat around the bush but always told it like it was - you knew where you stood with Steve at all times - a rare quality in todays world.

He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Geri Lea and the rest of his family,

--Steve Marasovich

This is avery tragic thing that has happend, My norman pup was due to go to Steve at the end of next month. I spoke with him aboput 2wks ago and he went on to tell me he wasnt feeling well. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family in this hard time. he is in a better place now thats for sure. only speaking on the phone with him, i could see his passion for the sport and how he impacted it himself. God Bless the stidham family

I trained with Steve for about 4 years - on most weekends when not at a test. He taught me more than anyone else in the dog game. Great guy and fellow Longhorn.

--Dave Renner

Steve was a good guy. I did not know him well but he always put a smile on my face.

--Terry A

My new avatar is Steve and Ruby (owned by Chris Robbins) at one the four MN's they went to. The funniest story I witnessed was one of Steve's clients running a junior dog. he told the dog to HEEELLL! The judge told him he could not yell at the dog like that. The handler turned and said, "I wasn't yelling. Steve Stidham trained him." The judge smiled and calmly said, "Oh, carry on."
God may not be a Longhorn, but he dang sure ain't an Aggie.

You will be missed my friend.

--Paul-TEXAS

I didn't see Steve every day, but the world will be a different place knowing that he isn't here. I will miss him a lot. Jerri Lea, you know where to find me, and I remain at your service should you need anything.
~ David Nunn, Wolfe City, Texas

Jerri Lea, Sharon and family,

You are in my prayers and thoughts during this time of great loss. May God Bless You in the coming days.
~ Novella Thacker, Rockwall, Texas

Steve and I go way back to our beginning field trail Derby days where we butted heads meany times. He was always prepared, friendly and highly respected. Will miss him..God Bless his family.

~Phil Brown - Ash Grove, Mo.

Having met Steve at an AKC Master National, I quickly found that he was always one that would be quick to give a word of encouragement and offer his friendship. He touched so many lives in the retriever world and will be sorely missed.

My prayers to Jerri Lea, his children, family and friends.
~ Vicky Trainor, Oakdale Retrievers, Maryland

My prayers go out to Jerri Lea and Family. Steve was a great person and a great trainer. He will be missed!

~Terry Jackson