DR. STEPHEN McCRAY SMITH

I'm sad to learn of Stephen's passing. I remember Stephen and Joyce shortly after they married. My husband Stephen Hutchison was his first cousin, their mother's were sisters. This is for Joyce, I'm sad to learn of your lose, and think about you often. Marcia Hutchison, 1275 S Via Estrella Blanca, Tucson, Az. 85713

Steve was a great friend and partner in ministry in IVCF. He was smarter than me, but never made me feel inferior.

Rev. Ron Thompson

Dear Joyce,
I wanted to extend my deepest sympathey to you and your family. I never knew you husband, and I only knew you for a short while but I really enjoyed knowing you. I hope you have angels supporting you with faces of family and friends. I hope the good memories you have of your husband fill you mind with peace and your heart with joy. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, Joanne McDaniel

Joyce: Our hearts and thoughts go out to you, as Steve's did to each of us so many years ago in Seattle at the UW. Even though we have lost touch in recent years, it is still often, as i interact with students, that I recall ways that Steve influenced my ministry forever - in heart and mind. Roger & Jeanne Hinrichs (Seattle WA)

To all of Steve"s loved ones,

How saddened and moved I was to learn of your great loss! Although I lost touch with Steve these last few years, I always remember with great love and admiration all the challenging classes--and discussions afterward in his office--that I had with Steve when I was a student at Trinity. He always posed such heart-felt and God-inspired questions! Most of all, the light of Jesus shown in everything he did and said. He was the one professor who inspired me to continue my formal study of Systematic Theology and most of all, to keep posing those deep God-filled questions that bring us closer to our Savior. Praise to God from whom all blessings flow--and thanks to Him for the gift that Steve was to me and to so many! I share your loss and hold you all in prayer, even as we rejoice at the glory that Steve is even now experiencing.

The Rev. Dr. Terry Hunt

What a wonderful man, I was richly blessed to sit under his teaching. He was able to make theology interesting to my not-so-theologically bent mind. I will never forget his utter joy in being Sponged! And his delightful personality, such a gift to all who knew him. Blessings and prayers are with Joyce and the family.

Dear Joyce,
I am heartbroken to hear of Steve's death. I regret being out of touch with you for so long, but you and the family have always been in my thoughts and prayers. I've always wanted to say thank you to you both for having a hand in raising me and helping me to become who I am today. Steve remains lively in my memories on Cochrane Lane and at The Whistlestop, so many years of love. I miss him.
With you and your family we pray that the Lord bless Steve and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious to him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen.

All our Love to you,
Amy Wright-Long & Benjamin Long +

Dearest Joyce, Becky, Betsy, and Andrew,
We mourn with you over the loss of a gentle giant, your and our dear Steve. We thank God for the chance to know and love him and you. We rejoice at the thot of eternity together with you all. This life is about separation and that one about togetherness. We look forward to never having to say goodbye.
You are in our thots and prayers.
Glo

I came so late into the lives of all who knew Steve (and Joyce) during and before their years with the Whistlestop. And yet, they made me family. My Whistlestop nights were joyous and uplifting. Steve and Joyce's incredible love of the Lord, bringing the word to all and opening their home to bible study and prayer groups was a blessing to me and so many. Steve was a servant of the Lord and I know there are many students of the Bible who hold their memories of time with him dear. He is and will be missed---his legacy teaching us about Jesus and of the Spirit of the Lord has touched our lives forever. Love and prayers, Diane (and Michael) Koch

Dear Joyce,

We were so sorry to hear about Steve's death. Our prayers are with you as you adjust to this enormous loss. We are glad Paul and Tonia could be with you at this time.

Margaret and Paul Fromer

Dear Joyce and Family,

We express our sympathy in the loss of a special husband, father, and grandfather. We have fond memories of your and Steve's I. V. leadership at the University of Washington. Milt and I married after we graduated from the UW. We raised two children and now are blessed with five grandchildren.

Thank you for investing in our lives and being shining examples of godly living. You have passed on a legacy of faith to many.

Proverbs 10:7: The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.

Love and prayers,

Milt and Lydia Harris
http://www.preparingmyheart.net/

Joyce and family,

Janet and I wish you the best during this sad time. We know that Steve was a stalwart in so many ways. He was a great help to us at a critical time when we struggled with some part of the Bible at an IVCF conference. We appreciated hearing from him throughout the years. We shared with you the emotions of raising a black child when it was not politically correct to do so. May the Lord give you peace during this difficult time.

Love,

Edwin and Janet House

Dear Tonia and Paul,

I couldn't help but notice, after reading the entries in this guest book, that Steve had a significant influence on the lives of those who wrote. There can be no greater legacy than having made a positive difference, through love, to those whom you meet in life. I picture Steve showered with blessings, like falling rose petals, as he leaves this world for the next.

My thoughts are with you, with his wife and children, as you adjust to life without him.

Sending my love,
Suzie Clausen

Dear Joyce and Family,

Doreen and I are saddened to hear of your loss. We know that the health struggles Steve faced in the past several years were not easy for any of you. Thanks for keeping in touch with us even though we did not have a opportunity to visit you in Pennsylvania. Thanks to both you and Steve for always encouraging me during my student years and staff time with IVCF. Our lives have been enriched by both your and Steve's love for the Lord Jesus.


Our love---
Marv and Doreen Anderson

Dear Tonya, Paul, Becky and Joyce,
Remembering you during this time of transition and loss here and rejoicing deeply with Steve that he had made the final bridge successfully and is enjoying the joy of the Lord as only those in Christ's presence can do.
Our love to you, Ginny and Bill Kepler (previously of Pas Cov and seller to Becky of the white Toyota liftback...)

Dear Joyce,
Walt and I would like to send you our love and prayers for comfort in the loss of Steve. Our lives were together but for a short while, yet you both made a difference. We will never forget your sense of hospitality and warmth. We are grateful to God for you. May the comforting Spirit be with you at this difficult time, Fran & Walt Becker

Dear Joyce and family, Tonia and Paul:
I am so sorry for your loss of Steve, but rejoicing with him as he has been freed from the constraints of his life here. He was such an interesting and bright man, and a warrior for the Lord. I pray that God will grant you strength and peace as you remember your lives with Steve. Love to you, Wendy Turney

Joyce, May God be your comfort today and the days to come as you remember your life partner. I think of our days at Multnomah School of the Bible and early InterVarsity staff days. I have followed you from afar, mainly through the work of Jim Berney and Fred & Carol Wagner of IVCF.
Suellen Skinner Rowlison, Chico, CA, former NCF staff

Hi Joyce. It has been forty years since I've had contact with you or Steve. As colleagues on Inter Varsity Staff in the northwest during the late 1960s, Steve and I spent many days together visiting students, discussing theology, and staffing camps and conferences (I even recall that Steve and I were undefeated as a 2-person volleyball team at Campus by the Sea). I remember with joy our times together as families. I am surprised and saddened by the news of Steve's death - grateful to our IVCF colleague Fred Wagner for letting me know. My prayers are with you and your family. Warmly, Tom Kirkpatrick, Maple Valley, Washington.

Dear Joyce,
I am praying for God to comfort you. You and Steve were wonderful at Campus in the Sage as well as the rest of my Inter-Varsity life. It was through the group you and Steve taught in 1964 out of Dillon that I discovered the wonder of inductive Bible Study. Steve's enthusiasm for God and scripture were inspiratioal. He never stopped learning.
My love,
Janet M. Malone (Montana Inter-Varsity 1963-1970)

Dear Tonia and Paul,

Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your brother and brother-in-law. As Christians we are blessed because even though we feel the sting of death and the separation from our loved ones, we know in our hearts that one day in heaven we will see them again. I hope that God's promise will offer you comfort.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love in Christ,

Jenny Lewark

Dearest Joyce, I am so sorry for your loss. You and Steve were the most wonderful, gracious neighbors and your old house will always be The Whistlestop to us. Jeff always enjoyed engaging Steve in conversation. Steve was a wonderful man and he will be greatly missed.
With all my heart, Whitney Gresham

I am so sorry for your loss, Joyce. You are and will be in our prayers. I have fond memories of Steve at TSM and enjoyed his classes very much. I hope our Alex gets to know him in heaven. :)
Love in Jesus, Blanche

Such sad news about Cousin Steve. Our love to Joyce and the family. May you all find great comfort in your faith. Blessings to you all, Judy and Denis Dutton

I remember the good old days when Steve was with IVCF in Oregon and I was with Regent College and Steve opened many doors for us to promote theological education for the laity by introducing me to lots of people and institutions. I also enjoyed the hospitality of Joyce and Steve. I was delighted when Steve was appointed professor at Trinity Episcopal and followed his ministry from a distance. I am sure that Steve will be remembered by many, especially his students with IVCF and Trinity. My prayer is that the Lord will sustain Joyce and the family with his all sufficient grace.

Steve was my InterVarsity "staff worker" when I was in college back in the 1960's at Whitman College. He used to travel to several of the small colleges in the NW, and when he was on our campus, he occasionally stayed in my room. I loved Steve. He loved Jesus. He was transparent with his own life and with his marriage. He made discipleship practical. Perhaps more important to the "trajectory" of my life, Steve introduced me to the "unity of the Bible"--to the biblical/theological understanding of the Kingdom of God--and to the glories of the OT. Steve helped me with my discernment process when I decided to go to Harvard right after college to study Semitic languages and literature. He knew how to ask great questions.

While I have had little contact with Steve in the last decades, his life and voice continue to affect my life daily.

Joyfully,
Steve Hayner
President
Columbia Theological Seminary

Steve Smith was one of my best, lifelong friends and colleagues going back to the Seventies when we were doctoral students (he at Claremont, I at USC) with young families. His love for God, love for learning and teaching, and irrepressible joie de vivre and sense of humor were unmatched. For me he was a great and loyal friend and encourager and an inspiring warrior in the cultural, theological, and ecclesiastical combats of our time --- the ones that matter. May God give Joyce and the family comfort.
David W. Gill
Prof. of Workplace Theology & Business Ethics
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary