MAJ, JA, U.S. Army (Ret.) Steven Carl "Steve" Barkley

Steven Carl Barkley, MAJ, JA, U.S. Army (Ret.), passed away on October 16, 2025. He was born on October 27, 1948, in Kewanee, Illinois.

A proud veteran and dedicated public servant, Steve graduated from Billings West High School in 1966 and went on to earn his B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Montana in Missoula. He later earned his Juris Doctor cum laude from Baylor University School of Law, specializing in Corporate and Labor Law.

Steve served his country with honor, earning the Bronze Star Medal and other commendations before leaving active duty as a First Lieutenant in 1975. He continued his military service with the Texas Army National Guard until 1991, where he rose to the rank of Major and became the first Staff Judge Advocate of the 36th Brigade. His assignments included tours in Saigon, Thailand, Okinawa, and Fort Hood during active duty, followed by 16 years of dedicated service with the Texas Army National Guard.

In civilian life, Steve practiced law from 1978 until his retirement in 2017. Board certified in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law since 1991, he was widely respected for his professionalism, integrity, and steadfast dedication to justice.

A passionate model railroader, Steve shared his love of trains with friends across the country and served as President of the National Model Railroad Association's Lone Star Region from 2013 to 2016. He earned the distinction of Master Model Railroader (MMR) through completion of the NMRA Achievement Program-a reflection of his creativity, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.

Steve was also deeply involved in the local model railroading community. He was a founding member of the East Texas and Gulf Rail Modelers Club in the Golden Triangle of Texas and joined the Southeast Texas Model Railroad Club in 2012. In 2022, he was honored as an honorary member of the Tex-La Model Railroad Club. Steve was also a longtime member of the San Jacinto Model Railroad Club in Houston. Known for his generosity with both his time and knowledge, he became a trusted mentor in the hobby. His expertise in Model Railroading DCC (Direct Command Control) led him to collaborate with Kalmbach Publishing on a popular instructional video for the Model Railroad Academy-a resource that continues to inspire hobbyists across the country.

Steve was a devoted member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where he served on numerous boards, volunteered his time cooking meals and photographing events, and enjoyed teaching Bible study classes alongside his beloved wife, Judy.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Barkley; stepdaughter, Kathy Weir and husband, George; grandson, George Weir Jr.; stepson, Chris Deever and wife, Vanessa; grandchildren, Holly, Kate Banks, and Bryn Banks; sister, Carla Sterling and husband, Rod; nephews, Cale Barber and wife, Kristi, Ryan Barber and wife, Rachael; niece, Taya Barber-Thurman; nephews, Bryan and Andrew Olsson; and niece, Katie Johnson.

Preceded in death by his parents, Carlos Junior and Lorraine Barkley; his sister, Lori Olsson; and his first wife, Diane Barkley.

Memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 0843, Beaumont, Texas 77704 or Humane Society of Southeast Texas, 2050 Spindletop Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77705.

A celebration of Steve's life will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 3430 Harrison Ave, Beaumont. Friends and family are invited to gather in remembrance of a life well lived and deeply loved. His cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard's Crematorium.