Stephen S. Farha

Stephen Sammy Farha passed peacefully from this life on May 1, 2025. Born October 1, 1945, in Denver, Colorado, to Blanche and Ralph Farha, Steve was proud of his Lebanese heritage and embodied the warm attributes of his culture’s hospitality and friendship. He was a lifetime member of St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church where he had the privilege of serving as treasurer on the Parish Council and was a member of the Order of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

Steve graduated from Northwest Classen High School in 1964 and attended the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Military Academy, Oklahoma City University School of Law and graduated from Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he forged many lifelong friendships. He also served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves 95th Division during the Vietnam Conflict.

Early on in his life, Steve affectionately became known as “The Great Reed” by his closest friends and family. Reed had a very colorful life spending many late nights closing down Junior’s Supper Club, capped off by breakfast at the Bit of Italy in the wee hours of the morning, often saying goodnight with the catchphrase, “Over and Out.” Reed loved his Porsche sports cars, enjoyed living in the fast lane but always had time to slow down to satisfy his voracious appetite for delicious food and wine. He was blessed with many friends and was loved by all that knew him well.

Steve was the owner operator of Stevie’s Bargain Liquor from 1976 to 2016 and was a leader in the industry. Steve loved spending time with Minette Kelson, the love of his life, whom he met in 1989. Steve and Minette were loving companions throughout their lives, traveling throughout the world and supporting each other in every life event the Farha and Aboussie families’ experienced, respectively.

Steve was predeceased by his parents, Blanche Marian Aboussie and Ralph Ellis Farha, and his significant other Minette Kelson. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law Gregory R. and Nancy S. Farha, sister Jan Ellis Farha Klopp and husband “Brother” John, nephews Nicholas G. Farha and wife Brooke, Patrick J. Farha, Benjamin W. Farha, and nieces Sara N. Klopp, Evelyn K. Holzer and her husband Michael S. Holzer, M.D. Steve is also survived by his great niece Emersyn P. Farha and great nephews Elias N. Farha, Elijah J. Holzer, and Everett M. Holzer, and countless cousins and friends.

There will be a visitation at Smith & Kernke Funeral Home on Sunday May 4, 2025, from 3-5 p.m. at 14624 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, Steve’s family requests that donations be made to the Flowers that Do Not Wither Fund at St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. The funeral service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2025, at St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church located at 15000 N. May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134. Final internment will be at Rose Hill Burial Park.