Sarah Viola Stepp was born on February 21, 1936 to Charles Everette Brown and Maggie Nelson of California, Missouri. She passed away at her home in Osceola, Missouri on Sunday, October 13, 2013.
She was the oldest of 11 children. She spent her younger years in Arkansas working in the strawberry and cotton fields. Sarah took pride in taking care of her younger siblings.
On November 20, 1954 Sarah was united in marriage to Henry Paul Stepp. Early in their marriage, Henry and Sarah lived in North Carolina where Henry served in the United States Army 82nd Air Born Division. There is where they had their first child, Paula. After leaving the Army, Henry and Sarah moved to Kansas City, Missouri where they had three son’s, Henry, Jr., Carl and Jerry. Sarah was a stay at home mother until 1973 when she attended beauty school. Sarah owned and operated her own beauty salon in Grandview, Missouri from 1973 to 1976. In 1976 Henry and Sarah moved to Lamar, Missouri where they resided for 20 years. Sarah began working at O’Sullivans in 1976 and retired in 1996 as a 20 year employee. In 1996 Sarah and Henry retired to Osceola, Missouri.
Sarah enjoyed spending time with her family. They spent countless years at their lake house at the Lake of the Ozarks. She enjoyed camping, swimming and gardening. Sarah enjoyed entertaining guests and meeting new people. In later years Sarah joined the Garden Club and Historical Society. She was a volunteer for Hospice until 2006. Sarah was an active member of the Vista Baptist Church. She enjoyed singing with the back row sisters.
She was a proud grandmother of 7 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She loved spending time with each one of them.
Sarah was welcomed into the gates by her husband Henry Stepp; one son, Henry Stepp, Jr. (Elvis); both parents and one brother, Eddie Brown.
She is survived by 4 brothers, Everette Brown, Harold Brown, LeRoy Brown and Joe Brown; 5 sister, Maud Williams, Bonnie Auburn, Mary Mallison, Louise Osborn, Lois; children, Brad and Paula Beemer, Carl and Tammy Stepp, Jerry Stepp and Tammy Forste; 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
Leave a Reply