Steven Ray Street

"The Song Has Ended But The Melody Lingers On" Steven Ray Street was peacefully taken from us by His Heavenly Father on Saturday January 15th 2011 at 11:30 am at his home with family and friends present. Steven was born, the 3rd son of Bernice (Peterson) and Raymond Street in Casper, WY on June 29, 1955. He lived at the foot of Casper Mountain and actually watched the "deer and the antelope play" in his front yard. (True Story) At the age of 10, they moved to the Starry Road in Bellingham as his father joined the crew that built the Intalco Plant. Steve attended Irene Riether Grade School. While his brother Chris was serving in Vietnam, Steve, his mother and brother Ken headed for Great Falls, Montana to start a new life. Steve attended Great Falls Jr. High and graduated from C.M. Russell High. After graduation he worked for the Cancer Research Foundation in Great Falls and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. It was during this time that he met and married Teresa Newman in Everson, WA. He worked at the Everson Mill until approached one day by someone who told him that, because of his tender nature, he would make a good Funeral Director. Steve immediately cut off his hair, bought a suit, borrowed a tie and interviewed at Yarington's Funeral Home in White Center, near Seattle. He took his two year apprenticeship there and then returned to Whatcom County where he became a freelance embalmer for all of the Whatcom County Funeral Homes. Many of you may remember the old blue "Hippie" that he drove. You could hear it coming for miles…no money for a new tail pipe! Steve was born into a musical family. His Father was a member of the "Montana Plainsmen" which still plays to this day and his mother a choir Director. Both brothers had formed bands of their own. And Steve, not to be out done, started his own band in High School and after graduation played at the Rainbow Hotel in Great Falls with "Daniel" It was there that he met Sonny James… a great moment in his life. On his return to Whatcom County after his apprenticeship, he formed "County Line" with Harvey DeJong" They began their gigs at the Old Hannegan House on the Pole Road and Twin Gables and became the house band for Pat's Place in Everson. The road called and they toured through Canada and later South to Sparks NV. Where the band came to an end. He left for Montana to join his brother Chris' Band "The Deuces Wild" who traveled the Holiday Inn Circuit. In an effort to finish his education Steve came back to the county where he graduated with honors from Whatcom Community College and went to work full time for Gillies Funeral Home in Lynden for the next 23 years. He also became a Deputy Medical Examiner for 14 years and worked part time for Westfords. On April 18, 1987 he was married to Linda Newton in Las Vegas and they spent 24 loving years together traveling to many places in the world including, The Canary Islands, Amsterdam, Hawaii, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico and the Ozarks. During this time, he and his sister-in-law- Sheila, wrote and recorded two CDs "Tears on My Face" and "On The Other Side" He also purchased his beloved "Gold Wing" and you would often see him cruising with his "Raccoon helmet down the Hannegan or Front Street in Lynden which had decals of his two favorite girls, Elizabeth Montgomery and Barbara Eden (whom he actually met at Western) After leaving Gillies he found himself working for Cascade Christian Community Services. He loved his crew, and enjoyed his time supervising them. It was at that time that his health began to fail, but he carried on until March of 2009 when he had a major heart attack while on duty and became disabled. He was still yearning to play music, and so he and Tom Williams began to jam in the garage and soon added a drummer, keyboardist and a vocalist. They were all members of former local bands & named themselves "Rock, Lock and Load" They enjoyed playing for benefits and birthday parties and just plain having fun. In August of 2009 Steve was diagnosed with lung cancer. It became increasingly harder for him to sing and play and the first of January had to retire his Gibson. Steve will always be remembered for his honesty, his tender heart (yes, he cried at movies) crazy sense of humor and the way he could tell a story. He loved his animals, DOG, Simba, Precious, Cleo and his constant buddy, Spook in the last months. Left behind to miss him deeply, his wife Linda, Mother Bernice Street of Great Falls, son Clifford Street his step-sons Scott Newton, Mark Newton and companion SueAnn Farago and Chad Newton and wife Richelle. Grandchildren, Victoria and Colin Street, Alex Newton and Kendall and Kasey Newton and Jamie Atkinson. Numerous Aunts, Uncles, cousins, nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his Father and two Brothers. There are so many to thank for their efforts to keep him with us…his Doctors, Bertha Safford, Andrew Colletti, Dr. Berry, Dr. Furdette, the Angels at St Joseph Hospital, The Hospice staff and many close friends especially Marley and John Robson and Ashley, his band members, and their families, Andrew Fuller, who kept him alive at the Blaine Boarder after his heart attack until the EMTS arrived. So many others too numerous to name here. Please share your thoughts and memories on line at www.sigsfuneralservices.com A Celebration of Life will be Saturday January 29th at 11am at the Deming Log Show Facility with his good friend Elijah Tadema officiating. There will be a light lunch following. A portion of his ashes will be scattered in the same stream in the Mountains of Montana where his two brothers ashes are also scattered. The urn will be inurned at Ten Mile Cemetery in Whatcom County at a later date .Donations are suggested to Whatcom Hospice, 800 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Arrangements are under the care of Sig's Alternative Funeral & Cremation Service, 360-656-5459