(From Clark Funeral Home)
NOV 19, 1952 — OCT 13, 2026
Steven R. York of Neosho, Missouri, passed away on October 13, 2026, in Carthage Missouri. He was one of four children born to William (“Doc”) Bransford York and Dorothy Arlene (Weldy) York and had an adopted brother, Kevin Steverson.
Steven was a lifelong resident of the area and attended Neosho High School. He married Laura (Thomas) on January 28, 1989, and they renewed their commitment to each other and vows on June 20, 2015. Laura took care of him during his battle with cancer and was by his side until his last breath. He was also a loving father to his daughter, Jessica Hughes, which he affectionally referred to as “the kid."
Steven had a lifelong passion for mechanics, engineering, and creating things from the unexpected. He built his first motorcycle at age 12 from a Schwinn bicycle frame and a Briggs & Stratton motor. Later he would go on to own 154 motorcycles in his lifetime, something he was very proud of. He always had a project and loved turning what others might call junk into something extraordinary—a philosophy he liked to call “trash to treasure.”
He began working for Teledyne at the age of 18, that spanned many years and would later be where he would retire. He had several other work adventures that included working at TDF Hytek, Smith Enterprises, building passenger theme park trains, Precious Moments, and owning his own business, Nostalgia Products. From working on jet engines, satellite equipment, rocket programs, and numerous other engineering projects, he earned great respect and admiration from his coworkers and was nicknamed “Rocket Man” and “Batman”. He retired in 2016 from Premier Turbines and was quoted “how lucky was I to be able to go to work and do what I loved every day with people that loved being there too. I can’t believe I got paid to do that.”
Steven’s creativity and eccentric taste extended beyond just his careers. One of his most cherished creations was his cabin, which he began building in 1979. It became a place where he continued creating, housed all his hobbies, and shared good times with friends and family. He was also known as the “wild man” of Western Hills.
Above all, Steven’s greatest inspiration was his daughter, Jessica. He was her person, and she was his. He was always bringing her imagination to life and adding a bit of magic to her life every day. Jessica was his shadow, and their love for each other was always felt throughout the years.
Some of his most treasured moments were the times he spent with his grandchildren. In his own unique way, he taught them about life, shared his wisdom through everyday moments, and lots of laughter. He created memories they will carry with them forever.
After retirement, Steven continued restoring old bicycles and motorcycles, working on cars, and sitting in his garage listening to music. His garage became a gathering place filled with vinyl records, amplifiers and memories of his high school band, The Sound Company. You could also find Steven around town with his dog, thrifting treasures and visiting at all his favorite shops.
Steven was preceded in death by his parents, William Bransford York and Dorothy Arlene (Weldy) York.
He is survived by his wife, Laura York; daughter Jessica Hughes and her husband, Eric (Rock); granddaughter, Brooklynn Hughes; grandson, Quenton Hughes; great-granddaughter, Harper Ann Bach, all of Neosho; siblings William York (Linda) of Carthage, James York (Kathy) of Tempe, Arizona, Judy Lentz of Webb City, and Kevin Steverson (Julie) of Auburn, Washington; and many nieces, nephews, friends and his beloved dog, Amino.
A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, Missouri.
A celebration of life will follow on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Lampo Building in Neosho, Missouri. The family requests that guests come dressed in "York Attire"—whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that contributions be made to Faithful Friends or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Steven was a lifelong resident of the area and attended Neosho High School. He married Laura (Thomas) on January 28, 1989, and they renewed their commitment to each other and vows on June 20, 2015. Laura took care of him during his battle with cancer and was by his side until his last breath. He was also a loving father to his daughter, Jessica Hughes, which he affectionally referred to as “the kid."
Steven had a lifelong passion for mechanics, engineering, and creating things from the unexpected. He built his first motorcycle at age 12 from a Schwinn bicycle frame and a Briggs & Stratton motor. Later he would go on to own 154 motorcycles in his lifetime, something he was very proud of. He always had a project and loved turning what others might call junk into something extraordinary—a philosophy he liked to call “trash to treasure.”
He began working for Teledyne at the age of 18, that spanned many years and would later be where he would retire. He had several other work adventures that included working at TDF Hytek, Smith Enterprises, building passenger theme park trains, Precious Moments, and owning his own business, Nostalgia Products. From working on jet engines, satellite equipment, rocket programs, and numerous other engineering projects, he earned great respect and admiration from his coworkers and was nicknamed “Rocket Man” and “Batman”. He retired in 2016 from Premier Turbines and was quoted “how lucky was I to be able to go to work and do what I loved every day with people that loved being there too. I can’t believe I got paid to do that.”
Steven’s creativity and eccentric taste extended beyond just his careers. One of his most cherished creations was his cabin, which he began building in 1979. It became a place where he continued creating, housed all his hobbies, and shared good times with friends and family. He was also known as the “wild man” of Western Hills.
Above all, Steven’s greatest inspiration was his daughter, Jessica. He was her person, and she was his. He was always bringing her imagination to life and adding a bit of magic to her life every day. Jessica was his shadow, and their love for each other was always felt throughout the years.
Some of his most treasured moments were the times he spent with his grandchildren. In his own unique way, he taught them about life, shared his wisdom through everyday moments, and lots of laughter. He created memories they will carry with them forever.
After retirement, Steven continued restoring old bicycles and motorcycles, working on cars, and sitting in his garage listening to music. His garage became a gathering place filled with vinyl records, amplifiers and memories of his high school band, The Sound Company. You could also find Steven around town with his dog, thrifting treasures and visiting at all his favorite shops.
Steven was preceded in death by his parents, William Bransford York and Dorothy Arlene (Weldy) York.
He is survived by his wife, Laura York; daughter Jessica Hughes and her husband, Eric (Rock); granddaughter, Brooklynn Hughes; grandson, Quenton Hughes; great-granddaughter, Harper Ann Bach, all of Neosho; siblings William York (Linda) of Carthage, James York (Kathy) of Tempe, Arizona, Judy Lentz of Webb City, and Kevin Steverson (Julie) of Auburn, Washington; and many nieces, nephews, friends and his beloved dog, Amino.
A memorial visitation will be held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, Missouri.
A celebration of life will follow on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the Lampo Building in Neosho, Missouri. The family requests that guests come dressed in "York Attire"—whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that contributions be made to Faithful Friends or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
No comments:
Post a Comment