Stephen Philip Smith

Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford Stephen (Steve) Philip Smith, 79, of Oxford passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at his residence. The service celebrating Steve’s life will take place on July 7th, 2023, at the Tahoma National Veterans Cemetery in Kent, Washington (18600 SE 240th Street). Steve was welcomed into this world on March 11, 1944, in Tacoma, Washington, as a son to the late Harry and Kathryn Smith. Steve was a graduate of Stadium High School where he served as class president and played drums in the concert band. He continued his education at Western Washington University where he was involved in the Young Republicans. However, his education was placed on hold as the Vietnam Conflict began. Steve willfully enlisted in the United States Army and faithfully served his country until he was honorably discharged from active duty in 1971. Upon his return to civilian life, Steve completed his Bachelor’s degree, graduating from Western Washington University also in 1971. He joined the Tacoma Police Department in 1973 and served on the force for twenty years before retiring. During his tenure in law enforcement, he held various roles such as Union President and as a negotiator of the SWAT team. Steve met his loving wife, Janice, soon after joining the police department. They married in 1976 and the couple were together forty-six years before his passing. Janice and Steve had two amazing children who became the focus of their worlds. After retiring from the police department in 1993, Steve worked as an insurance fraud investigator for USAA Insurance Company and various other “retirement” jobs. Steve spent his golden years practicing a multitude of hobbies, from using his investigative skills combing through genealogy records all the way to baiting a hook and casting a fishing line with the grandchildren. Above all other things, Steve cherished his time with family. Steve would show up to soccer or baseball games in his police uniform. All the way up to the week prior to his passing, Steve tracked the grandchildren’s sporting events, boy scouts and concerts. Although he has departed from our presence, his love of family and passion for life will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of his loved ones. Steve leaves behind a loving family to continue walking down the path of life in his absence: wife, Janice Smith of Oxford; son, Andrew Smith (Leighanne) and children Kendall, Wyatt and Hannah of Scottsdale, Arizona; daughter, Melinda Scruggs (Christopher) and children Cohen, Carder and Caroline of Abbeville, Mississippi; brother, Lowell Smith (Dorothy) of Hood River, Oregon and nieces Gretchen Hopper, Helen Holland and Laura Manning. He was preceded in death his parents, Harry and Kathryn Smith. The staff at Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is honored to serve the Smith family as they begin to walk through this new season of life.

Stephen Philip Smith

March 11, 1944 - March 11, 2023

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