Stephen Youngblood

Stephen “Steve” Youngblood, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, passed away unexpectedly on November 15, 2024, at 66 years of age, much to the grief of his family and numerous friends. Though he lived in Oklahoma for over 40 years, Steve was always a Missouri boy. Born in Carthage, Missouri, on May 11, 1958, to parents Clarence Curtis Youngblood and Dortha Pauline Youngblood (Slavens), he and his 3 siblings grew up on a farm in the small town of Diamond, Missouri. That small town was the essence of Steve – he went to school there, worked on the farm, played basketball, followed the Cardinals, and probably got into only a little bit of trouble. In the first grade, he met his wife Pamela Pinnell Youngblood in that small town, and it’s where they went to school together for all those years before they were married on April 22, 1978. At the beginning of their marriage, Steve described going up the Spindletop in Houston with Pam and thinking that “it was really a big deal for a couple of young kids” to see such a big place lit up like that at night. Steve loved seeing the world and he brought that kid-from-a-small-town enthusiasm into all the rest of his travels: driving across Europe to see Normandy and Boppard when his oldest daughter Stephanie was there for school, driving across America to see his second daughter Heather’s band competitions, driving back and forth to OSU to watch the Cowboys with his son Matthew, driving all around every day of the week for his grandchildren. He was sure to be at every school event, whether we were young or old, student or teacher, getting there early and saving a seat, or showing up for a few hours at an impromptu camping event before taking off again, always on his way to the next stop. One thing you can definitely say about Steve is that he was always ready to drive. When Steve and Pam moved to Tulsa in the late 70s, had their three children, created a home, and began a life, Steve still carried those small town feelings with him, turning that sense of community, camaraderie, enthusiasm, and generosity into the multiple circles of friends and family he built and enjoyed over all the decades of his life. Steve’s goal wasn’t to get out of a small town. Instead, he had the incredible skill of building his own small town wherever he went. His diverse and vibrant friend groups – from the gym, from church, from baseball card collecting - are a testament to that talent. But Steve was also a friend to everyone, from a childhood friend to a new face in the crowd. As ready as he was to jump in the car for a cross-country adventure, he was also always willing to drive across town to help a friend in need: to give a ride to the doctor, to do an airport run, to cover for a missed bus, to bring a snack over just to show he cared. Steve was always ready to be a friend. Steve enjoyed so many things in life – the St. Louis Cardinals, World War II movies, the Kansas City Chiefs, walking in the pool, learning about history, always loving the OSU Cowboys, sometimes loving the OU Sooners, trying a new restaurant, fishing at the lake, studying his Bible, saying “hi boy” to the dog, telling a long and often confusing story, catching up with his siblings, spending time with his friends. But there is nothing he enjoyed more than his three grandchildren, whether that was coaching basketball or going to baseball card shows, watching cheer, or eating ice cream. He took such pleasure in the simple joy of their existence, and will forever be an example of what it can mean to love people unconditionally. Steve is survived by: Wife Pamela Youngblood Children Stephanie Youngblood, Heather Youngblood, and Matthew Youngblood Grandchildren Jordyn Thomas, Jailyn Youngblood-Logan, and Alivia Youngblood Siblings LuAnn Youngblood Jenson, Cindy Youngblood Brown, and Mike Youngblood Sister-in-Law Ticia Pinnell And numerous nieces and nephews, pets past and present, friends of every background and creed, and every person who would have been lucky enough to have become his friend should there have been more time. Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Pauline Youngblood, and his mother and father-in-law, Marlin and Jean Pinnell. Steve enjoyed gardening, or at least the idea of it, and he loved watching the birds and squirrels moving around the yard, so we think he’d have appreciated any flowers people might send. But to honor Steve’s memory in the manner that seems truest to him, we’d love for you to go to a local baseball game, cast a line at the lake, be present for your friends and family in whatever way you are able, and – whenever you can – give someone a ride.

Tributes

Stephen Youngblood

May 11, 1958 - November 15, 2024