Stephen Fahrney

Stephen (Stevie) Michael Fahrney, 61, passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at his home in Briery Branch.
Stevie was born on May 18, 1963 and was a son of the late Robert and RuthMarie (Jones) Fahrney. A Harrisonburg native, he graduated from Harrisonburg High School in 1981 with a deep-rooted love for life, classic cars, and rock & roll. Stevie met and married his former spouse, Katrinka (Yoder) Fahrney, in 1986 and welcomed four children together over the next near-decade. He was employed for many years in logistics and shipping & receiving and worked at Dynamic Aviation for fourteen years, where he formed many special bonds and friendships.
In his lifetime, Stevie collected countless of his first love: classic vehicles. From his prized 1951 Chevy Belair to his 1984 Monte Carlo and every rusty bolt and sleek hood in between, Stevie was a true "car guy," turning tinkering into a pastime and passing on his mechanical know-how and incredible work ethic to his sons. He was also a stellar musician, pounding the drums to the likes of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and ZZ Top in true rocker fashion.
Stevie touched the lives of many individuals with his caring nature, good humor, and strong faith. His love for bacon led him to savor the flavor of life in the face of adversity and illness, and his many pairs of Converse tennis shoes carried him through times of joy and struggle. He was best known by those closest to him for his classic slogan, "Better'n it was." He viewed every old vehicle and new challenge with a can-do attitude and believed that one can make anything better than it was with a bit of effort, love, and elbow grease. His love for life was only surpassed by his faith in God as his lord and savior. His incredible faith moved many even as he fought the hard fight against cancer.
Stevie was united in marriage to Sherry (Sensabaugh) Fahrney in 2022. His love for Sherry was evident in his words, through his actions, and on every trip they took together to go antiquing or haul home another classic car. Surviving in addition to his wife are his children, Cody Fahrney, Luke (Erica) Fahrney, Grady (Mikayla) Fahrney, and Kristine (Martin) Cortes; three sisters, Aileen Crider, Jeanne Fahrney, and Andrea Dean; two brothers, Robbie Fahrney and Joe Fahrney; three grandchildren, Levi Cortes, Mikah Cortes, and Ellie Fahrney; and numerous nieces and nephews. His love and legacy is evident through his loved ones who are honored to have loved him in return.
A service celebrating Stevie's life will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM at New Beginnings Church in Harrisonburg, VA. To honor Stevie's life, the family requests that attendees wear Converse shoes and drive their classic cars if they own either.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at johnsonfs.com To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stephen Fahrney, please visit our floral store.