Stephen Buell Cary

Stephen Buell Cary entered this life on December 28, 1951, in Greenville, South Carolina to Gordon and Thelma Buell Cary. He was the second of four siblings. He departed for his heavenly home on August 3, 2024, at the age of 72 years, 7 months, 6 days.
Most of Steve's growing-up years were spent in Hot Springs, South Dakota, where his father pastored the Wesleyan Church and worked at Brainard Indian School as administrator and teacher. Steve had a true love for the Black Hills of South Dakota and has returned numerous times over the years. He made his final trip to his beloved home in September 2022 and had an experience of a lifetime flying his drone and taking pictures of his hometown.
After graduating from Hot Springs High School in 1970, Steve attended Kansas City College and Bible School in Overland Park, Kansas, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Missions. He went on to receive his Masters of Arts in Counseling & Human Services in 2000 from the University of Colorado.
While attending Kansas City College and Bible School he met his "sweetie" Grace Gates, and they were united in marriage, June 16,1973. In June of last year, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a gathering of family and friends. This had been a milestone that Steve had prayed he would reach. To their marriage were born three children, one daughter, Stephanie Marie, two sons, Stephenson Brooks, and Matthew Gordon.
During Steve's college years, he served in ministry with Herbert and Virginia Lawson at the Beacon Light Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He served as Sunday school teacher, song leader, and assistant pastor. Those were wonderful years for the Cary family. Herbert and Virginia Lawson became like parents to the Cary family and Steve was ever grateful for those years of mentoring by the Lawsons.
After graduating from college, Steve, and his family of three moved to Mount Zion Bible School, Ava, Missouri, where Steve was a teacher, boys' softball coach and sponsor for the school trio travels group. Oh, yes, he also taught the dying cockroach. If you do not know what that is, ask some of his students and they can explain it very well. Steve made many lifelong friends while at Mount Zion, and he loved every minute of his time spent on the "hill" (as it was called).
In the summer of 1983, Steve began his first full time pastorate at the Lowry City Church of God (Holiness), Lowry City, Missouri. The Lowry City Church family have always held a very special place in Steve's heart. They were loving and kind in helping Steve through those first years, learning the responsibilities of shepherding the flock, and negotiating the day-to-day operations of the Lowry City Christian School. Steve loved to sing and he had such wonderful times singing with Harold & Philena Scott and several others. There are many, many other memories but they are too numerous to mention.
In June 1990, Steve and the family moved to the "Hills" of West Virginia where Steve pastored the Ashford Church of God (Holiness), Ashford, West Virginia. Steve made many friends during those years and had many fond memories of time spent in various homes enjoying fellowship, love, and laughter. Steve learned to love ramps, hot dogs with coleslaw and chili on top, and fried bologna with fried hot peppers.
In the fall of 1992, Steve and family of five moved to Colorado where they resided for the next twenty-eight years. During those years, Steve earned his Masters degree and worked as a counselor in the Federal Penitentiary, Florence, Colorado and for the Colorado Department of Corrections in Canon City, Colorado. For the last twelve years in Colorado, he served as pastor for the Mountain View Church of God (Holiness), Loveland, Colorado. It was such a privilege for Steve to minister to the small congregation. Some of the finest people on the earth were found in the congregation at Mountain View. It was such an honor for Steve to serve together with his wonderful friend and colleague, Wayne Skeen, both in song and worship. It was difficult for Steve to say goodbye to the church as he entered his retirement years.
Steve was an ordained minister in the Church of God (Holiness) and I know Steve would want to say Thank you for allowing him to serve, it was truly an honor.
In July of 2020, Steve and Grace retired and moved to their retirement home in Fordland, Missouri. Steve enjoyed the past four years in his much-loved state of Missouri. He enjoyed exploring the backroads of Missouri, striking up conversations with strangers, and connecting with friends from the past. He also immensely enjoyed living closer to his children, grandchildren, and other family members.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Gordon and Thelma Cary; his oldest brother, Philip Gordon Cary; one aunt, Laverne Malott; and two uncles, Whitney Lewis Cary and Roger Benjamin Buell.
He is survived by his wife, Grace (Gates) Cary; one daughter, Stephanie Marie Auterson (Loyal), of Ozark, Missouri; two sons, Stephenson Brooks Cary, of Denver, Colorado, and Matthew Gordon Cary (Kara) of Blue Springs, Missouri; five grandchildren: Alex Alvarez, Samantha Alvarez, Andrew Alvarez, Sophia Alvarez, and Brooks Michael Cary; one brother, David Walter Cary (Holley) of Bartlett, TN; one sister, Esther Laverne Allred (Ron) of Springfield, Missouri; and one sister-in-law, Margaret Cary (Philip–deceased) of McCook Nebraska; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.
Steve's earthly body will be laid to rest in Lowry City Cemetery, Lowry City, MO, but his heavenly body lives on forever in his Eternal Home!