Steven Excell

1949 - 2024

Steven Excell

July 14, 1949 - February 8, 2024

Olympia, Washington - Steven Craig Excell died peacefully on February 8, 2024 with his wife, Patsy, at his side. He was 74 years old. He fought a long battle with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) and bladder cancer.

On July 14, 1949, Steven was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, to Jack and Caroljean Excell (nee Ellison). He grew up moving often due to his father's job as a Civil Engineer. By the time Steve graduated from Shorecrest High School in 1967, he had attended fifteen schools in many states.

After high school, Steve attended the University of Washington where he met his future wife, Patricia Farenbaugh, at a Young Republicans meeting. On May 17, 1969, Patsy and Steve were married in Olympia, Washington, Patsy's hometown.

In 1971, Steve graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) degree from the University of Washington and later continued his education at Georgetown University Law Center earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1976.

He was a bit of a Renaissance man both personally and professionally. His career included working with his dad in heavy construction in Bristol Bay, Alaska, as well as starting his own home building company, Quarters Construction. Politics was his passion and he co-founded Paragon Public Affairs (formerly Applied Demographics) in Seattle. His firm was busy in the '90s working on the Growth Management Act, private forest land owner rights and many other land use issues.

Steve served the people of the State of Washington as Legislative Director to U.S. Representative Joel Pritchard; as Chief of Staff to former Governor John Spellman; as Assistant Secretary of State to former Secretary of State Sam Reed; and as the Washington State Archivist for nearly a decade, retiring in late 2021.

He had many hobbies over the years including gunkholing around Puget Sound with Patsy aboard their boat the Sea Otter, geology and rock hounding. Steve and Patsy enjoyed restoring an old home in Virginia as well as a 100+ year old Craftsman home overlooking Lake Union in Seattle. He was a member of the Puget Sound Yacht Club and served on the board of The Center For Wooden Boats. Upon retirement, Steve remained engaged in moderate Republican politics and enjoyed genealogy and puttering in the giant workshop on his Olympia acreage.

Steve was known for being generous with his time, expertise, resources and contacts. He never showed up at a social event empty-handed! His friends and family miss his booming voice and jovial laugh.

Survivors include: his wife of 54 years, Patsy Excell; his sisters, Sandra Jean Baker (Centralia) and Sharon Ann Schierle (Lynnwood); sister-in-law, Kay Jacobs (Snohomish); brothers-in-law, Fred M. Baker, Jason T. Schierle and Steve Jacobs; nephews, Andrew Steven Baker and Jack T. Schierle; niece, Taressa Percival; and great niece, Lauren Percival. Steve was predeceased by his parents, Carol and Jack Excell.

Steve's family would like to express their appreciation to the Care Pros at Home Instead of Olympia and to the team at Providence Sound Homecare and Hospice of Lacey.

At Steve's request, a memorial service was not held. Please share your memories and photos here below. Thank you. A statement on Steve from the Washington State Secretary of State can be read online at sos.wa.go (search Steve Excell)