Robert Stephens I

Steele, Riley, and Piper, Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, the Fassett Family

With the most sincere condolences

Rob was one of my great youth group friends at Faith Evangelical. We did everything together and I hardly remember an event without him. We were at his house often, and I loved his whole family dearly. I never really knew Pam in high school, but while they were in Houston and I was living in Tyler, TX, I went down for a visit. I met the little ones and felt so loved and welcomed. Rob was always so excited about me being a missionary and wanted his kids to know all about it. I take comfort in knowing that I will see Rob and Pam again in Heaven, and we can swap the stories of our adventures.

My favorite memory of Rob occurred at Krahn Elementary School during Parent’s Night. My son Owen was in Steele’s third grade class. As I walked into the classroom, Rob, doing his best third-grade boy impersonation, turned in his little desk, waved his arm in the air and shouted “Oo, oo, Jeff come sit by me!” The teacher, Mrs. Peirce I believe, gave us quite the look. I suspect she must have started the year a bit wary of Steele and Owen. Jeff Fassett

One evening just after Valentine's Day 1991, when Rob and I had finished our duty time as the airport ready crew, I asked Rob to join me for a beer at the local Bennigan's. I had asked a young ticket agent out to have a drink and having been divorced for a while I was nervous about going out. He surprised me a little when he said yes, but he was that kind of friend. As it was, that woman didn't really show up, but her lovely friend did and she stayed to talk. The three of us enjoyed a beer together and then Rob departed, saying that he was headed home to be with his love, Pam. Julie and I talked for hours that evening and thus began our lives together. We married and have been together ever since, some thirty years now. We have said many times that God must have brought us together, two souls perfectly matched and desperately in need of each other. I believe that Rob was there not just as a friend, but knowingly as God's helpful servant and chaperone to His will.