Samuel Cyrus Steiner

Samuel “Cyrus” Steiner was born in Highmore, South Dakota, April 4th 1921 to Samuel

(Sam) Albert Steiner and Edna Virgina Weems. He was raised in Little River County,

Arkansas, with his siblings; Evelyn, Maurice, and Raymond. He was a fun loving dutiful

son, working on the family farm; willingly sacrificing two years of school to work during

the Depression. Edna died on December 5th 1931, a few weeks after baby Raymond.

Sam remarried to Mary Jane Reaves on July 15th 1932. They had one child Emily, with

whom Cyrus was very close.

In the class of ‘42 at Foreman High School, Cyrus excelled playing tackle for his high

school football team, the Gators. He forewent his last years of school to enlist in the US

Navy. As Fireman First Class, he served aboard the Battleship USS Oklahoma (his

friend Casbie Reaves Navy Seaman First Class served on the USS Arizona ) , anchored

at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7th 1941. He was declared Lost At Sea, formally

stated “to have lost his life in the service of his country.” He was awarded the Purple

Heart, American Defense Service, and WWII Victory medals. He was only 20 years old.

He is survived by his brother Maurice’s children: Edna Morphew, James Steiner, Billy

Steiner, Emma Cook; and their spouses, children, and grandchildren; and his sister

Emily Utterback and her children: Roxanne Holmes, Merrill Utterback, Terry Utterback,

Dale Utterback, Shirley Wilson, Charla Vollmer, Brad Utterback; and their spouses,

children, and grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on November 21st 2020, 9:00 AM at the East Funeral

Home, 602 Olive Street, Texarkana, TX, followed by a Graveside Service held at the

Campground Cemetery, 11:00 AM, County Rd 38, Winthrop, AR.