Steven Wayne Elder

Raised in Shady Cove, Oregon, Steve graduated from Eagle Point High School in 1973 where he met his lifelong partner, Elizabeth Goebel, whom he married in 1976.

Born into a logging family, Steve worked in the woods as a teenager, then spent 32 years working at Boise Cascade Lumber Mill in White City. After enjoying an early retirement for a few years, he decided to go back to work as a driver for Swift, and had recently retired from there.

In the 1980s, Steve owned and was chief programmer for a software company named Wunderware, which sold games for Commodore computers.

Later, he crafted fine wood buttons and accessories for sale online, using wood from his property in Sams Valley.

Steve could build or repair just about anything, and was interested in almost everything. His hobbies over the years included racing dirt bikes, pottery, photography, woodworking, software programming, smoking meats and cooking, riding street motorcycles and spending lots of time with his dad and his brother, Scott, repairing antique tractors and whatever else needed fixing. He always had projects going at home, and built whatever was needed on the property, usually by creating a design on his own and figuring out the correct way to accomplish his plan. He was a hard worker.

Although Steve was a quiet person, he made many friends over the years because he was kind, and fun to be around. He enjoyed his friends and family, and would go to great lengths to help someone he knew needed a hand. He will be missed by many people.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth, brothers Gary (Gail), Scott (Alma), Keith (Laura), sister Lori (Bill), brother-in-law Ray Goebel (Judy), sister-in-law Leah Nelson (Terry), nieces and nephews Bryan, Erin, Tara, Skye, Mike, Ken, Kris, Becky, Ryan, Claire, Carys, Margaret, Tegan, Caislin and their families, uncle David Elder (Carmen), aunt Linda Elder, step-mother Debby Elder, step-brother Tyrone, and many cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents Russell & Dorothy Elder, Elizabeth’s parents Ray and Betty Goebel, his brother Rusty, uncles Elden and Delvin Elder, aunt Nadeane Heckert, and great-nephew Alex Elder.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date yet to be determined.