JOHN HERBERT STEEVES, HOULTON – John Herbert Steeves passed away on March 14, 2018, in Houlton, Maine, after a lengthy battle with COPD at the age of 88. John was born on January 9, 1930, in New Limerick, the son of Frank and Erma Steeves.
He attended school in New Limerick and at Ricker. He entered the Air Force in 1947, serving in Texas and Okinawa, Japan. After his term of service, he came back to Houlton and married Beatrice Barton in 1951. Together they relocated to Southington, Connecticut, where he worked for New Departure and Pratt and Whitney. The couple soon welcomed their first child, a baby girl, into their home. They moved back to Houlton in 1954 where they added three more girls and two boys to their family over the years. John was employed by Putnam Brothers for many years and later as a bus driver for Southern Aroostook Vocational Education. His children remember him as a teasing, loving father who encouraged them to follow their dreams.
John enjoyed a good game of golf and traveling. He and Bea traveled many places including the East Coast as far south as Florida and several trips west as well as trips to Canada. He rebuilt a bread truck and school bus into campers that his children remember camping in. His love for country music including bluegrass was evident in his collection of records, 8 tracks, cassettes, and CDs. He was a handyman and could be found tinkering on some project around the house. As he aged, he depended on his devoted wife, Bea, more and more.
John is survived by his wife, Beatrice Steeves; children, Susan and her husband, Charles Pattershall, of Augusta, Elaine Steeves of Bangor, Michael Steeves and his wife, Cheryl, of Weston, Pamela and her husband, Dean Sidell, of Gloucester, MA, and Sandra and her husband, Tim Morris, of Houlton; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Randy; his brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Ann Steeves; his half-sisters and their husbands, Ruth and Francis Weeks, and Annie and Vernal Horton.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Houlton Regional Hospital, the staff that looked after dad at Gardner Healthcare Facility and Visiting Nurses of Aroostook.
A gathering to celebrate life will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2018, from 1-3 p.m. at 10 Lee Apartments in Houlton. In lieu of flowers, a donation to your favorite charity may be made in John’s memory. Arrangements have been entrusted to Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton. For an online memory book and to leave condolences please visit www.bowersfuneral.com
