Steven William Ouellette

The extraordinary life of Steven William Ouellette, ended October 2, 2024 after a long, grueling battle with glioblastoma. Born December 9, 1951, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Roland Napoleon Ouellette and Marguerite Herrmann Ouellette, Steve overcame a series of daunting obstacles to excel in two careers: first in computer software sales in its pioneering days, then as a realtor and co-owner of a real estate firm. Known as Mr. Houston Heights for his love of his community, he adopted his friends as family. After years of inner conflict, Steve came out loudly and proudly as a gay man and later married his long-time partner John Philip Carmona. A skilled raconteur, he was always ready with an entertaining story – or six. Steve was passionate about helping animals and couldn’t refuse a request for a donation or to foster or adopt a needy dog or cat. And he was an inveterate collector of interesting and eclectic people, antique cars, beautiful furniture and art. A remarkable man who overcame overwhelming odds to succeed and thrive in life, Steve will be remembered for his generosity, joy, grit and tenacity.

The first challenge in Steve’s life took place when, at age 11, his family moved to Big Sandy, Texas, to join the Worldwide Church of God, a religious cult founded by Herbert W. Armstrong. The cult enforced its rigid rules with extreme control and abusive punishment. While Steve had a hard time adapting to the isolation and rejection of “worldly” culture, perhaps most difficult for a closeted gay young man was the doctrine that same sex relationships were a sin and an abomination.

Steve tried hard to become someone he wasn’t. He received his education from the church’s schools and found a measure of acceptance singing in and directing the choir. After finishing his education, he moved to Houston, married, and began work. His first job was with NASA, transcribing exchanges between astronauts and the Houston Control Center. Thereafter, he began a career in the newly emerging field of computer software. As the result of his people skills and grasp of programming, he rose through the ranks at Oracle, CPT and other software companies, and was transferred to Utah, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Minnesota.

Steve and his second wife took his niece into their home when she was a young teenager and raised her as a daughter. One of his proudest accomplishments was giving her a foundation from which to grow and flourish into a self-confident, happily married woman with a successful career and two children whom Steve treated as his own granddaughter and grandson.

Music was always important to Steve, and he formed a musical duo in which he sang and played the piano at clubs and restaurants. A talented pianist with an outgoing personality, he made friends wherever he performed. He also had a love of horses, rode often, and doted on the animals. He took friends and colleagues to ride and experience what he loved about horses and the rural landscape.

Steve struggled with his true persona and explored his affinity for same sex relationships between his two marriages. After his second divorce, he realized that it was time to live an authentic life. He left the Worldwide Church of God and his career in technology and software to become a realtor and part owner of a real estate firm in Houston and embraced his identity as a gay man. He lived the last twenty-five years of his life to the fullest, filled with friends, family, animals, and conversation.

He is survived by his husband and partner of 23 years, John Philip Carmona, his sister Karyl Ouellette Niebrugge and her husband Vic of Hawkins, Texas, his brother Roland Curt Ouellette and wife Gail of Sherman, Texas, his “adopted” daughter Judy Wilkins Rounds, her husband Scott and their two children whom Steve considered grandchildren: Shaylan and Jake Rounds, and four nephews: Jared Wilkins, James Wilkins, Curt Ouellette and Richard Ouellette. He is mourned by scores of friends, his three dogs: Buddy Holly, Annie Louise, and Juan Pablo, and four cats: Louis, Julius, Broadway and Max.

For those who wish to memorialize Steve’s vibrant life, please consider a donation to the Rescued Pets Movement, 2317 W. 34th St., Houston, Texas 77018.

As Steve requested, a celebration of life gathering is being planned by Steve’s husband, John, his family and his friends.