A memorial service for Steven Edward Verhines, 66, of Chickasha, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 in the Friend School Auditorium located at 1307 County Road 1350 outside of Chickasha, Oklahoma.
Steven was born February 23, 1957 in Independence, Kansas, the son of Clifton Wayne Verhines and Pauline Marie (Kadavy) Verhines. He passed from this life Sunday, June 11, 2023 in Duncan, Oklahoma.
Steven moved to Oklahoma in 1959 where Steve was raised. He attended Loyal elementary and Lomega High School. Upon graduation from High School, he attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he acquired a bachelor’s of Special Education. While in college he was on the ROTC pistol team. This team won a national championship. Steve loved to ride his horse babe and loved shooting his pistols. He loved to play guitar and harmonicas. He was a great basketball player all through High School. Upon college graduation, he was hired at Friend School where he filled many roles. He began with special education and coaching. His first year he had a class of 12 that he called the “dirty dozen”. There weren’t enough classrooms so his room was on the stage. Steve also drove the bus and eventually taught science. His teaching was unconventional and entertaining, but always effective. His discipline methods were unconventional as well. He used to have the students stick their heads in the bookshelves if they were talking too much. He also had the “lunch bunch” where students that misbehaved were sent to spend time with him. If students misbehaved on the bus, he would roll the windows up and turn the heater on and drive slowly. Steve also encouraged his students to do their best. He taught them about life and how to be a good human as much as he did about history or science. Steve was nominated by his students for teacher of the year. He was selected as one of the top 28 teachers of Oklahoma by channel 5 news. Teaching was Steve’s passion influencing so many lives.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Clifford Verhines and paternal grandmother Annie Verhines; his mother, Pauline Verhines; maternal grandfather, Jerry Kadavy and maternal grandmother Mary Kadavy.
Loved ones left to remember him include his spouse, Sheila Verhines of Chickasha; sons, Michael Verhines and daughter in law, Sheryll of Chickasha, Garett Verhines of Chickasha, Dustin Verhines of Blanchard, and Aaron Verhines of Chickasha; Father, Clifton Verhines of Kingfisher; sister and brother-in-law, Jerrie and Greg Duffy of Piedmont; brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Akiko Verhines of Plano, Texas; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Terry and Anita Privott of Watonga; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mike and Denise McMillan of Livermore, Colorado; granddaughters Emily Verhines of Chickasha, McKenzie Verhines of Panama City, Florida and Hannah Verhines of Chickasha; grandsons Gavin Verhines of Panama City, Florida, Rowdy Verhines of Chickasha, and Daxton Verhines of Mustang; step grandson, Cooper Stewart; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Dementia Society of America http://www.dementiasociety.org or the Chisholm Trail Hospice http://www.drhealthfoundation.org .