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Submitted: 4/11/24 • Approved: 4/11/24 • Last Updated: 4/14/24 • R593396-G0-S3
November 17, 1949-October 30, 2022
*Photo, courtesy M. Bishop
*Obituary Steve D. Park
Good Morning.
It didn’t matter what time of the day it was, no student could walk past him without Coach Park telling them good morning.
There is a typical format for an obituary, but Coach Park was not a typical man.
On November 17, 1949, Stephen Douglas Park was born to Henry and Estill Park in Big Spring, Texas. He was the baby brother to Eva, Fred, Roger and John Park. To say that he adored his brothers would probably be an understatement. He always thought they were the most talented, athletic, smartest guys he knew. They must have taught him well because he may have surpassed them in every category. There is definitely a rowdy reunion in Heaven going on with a lot of trickery and jokes.
His Forever: It was no secret that he thought Judy Clanton hung the moon when they began dating at thirteen years old and that never changed over the next 59 years of togetherness. He brought her flowers every year on the anniversary of their first date. He would have loved to sit at home to watch old western movies, but she loved to shop and get pedicures, so he did too. He loved camping with her and their friends…where shopping also happened. He loved her until she passed away in August of 2021, and kept on loving her even after. He was reunited with her on October 30, 2022, and there is no doubt that when Jesus greeted Steve in Heaven, Judy was right on his heels.
Family: He was the proud father of Jenny and Shane Sayles, definitely his favorite daughter and son in law according to the son in law.; his coaching sidekick since he was two years old, Dave Park and his wife Stacey; and the quarterback son that every coach wanted, Cade Park and his wife Samantha. He left behind 7 grandchildren: Alexandria and Dustin Fontana, Ian and Sydney Park, Walker and Carlee Park, Nolan Park, Sydni Sayles, Jordan Park and Max Park. He never missed an event they were involved in and enjoyed every minute of it. He loved watching grandkids do anything, anywhere, anytime. He was determined to never miss an event.
Football: He was the coach of many things, but football was his true coaching love. He never missed an opening of two-a-day practice even after retiring. He loved to sit around the coaches office with the next generation and pick their brains about the upcoming season. They, in turn, wanted to get his advice on what he would have done “back in the day”. There are many stories of sandpits, blitzes, and slobber knockers but what made him special was the fact that he is probably the most respected and loved coach in Howard County. He remembered every kid, every player, what position they played and usually a silly story to go along with it. He could rarely go anywhere in town without being stopped with “Hi, Coach, I would like you to meet….”
Forsan: He graduated from Forsan High School in 1968, graduated from Texas Tech to start him on his life path of teaching math and coaching, and later graduated from Sul Ross with his Masters degree and principal certification. His coaching career spanned four decades in Bronte, Stanton, Coahoma and Forsan. He went to State in slide rule, which he still has to this day, and he barely missed going in track in the quarter mile. He loved track, especially the quarter mile. He loved to talk anything and everything about Forsan. He loved to tell stories about when Forsan had a movie theater, a deli, a gas station, a hardware store, and a golf course. He was the local historian on Forsan and a part of history itself.
His legacy isn’t state championships. His legacy is 48 and a half years of teaching and coaching. It is the grandparents and parents who are excited that their children got to have him as the same math teacher. His legacy is coming to school at 7 a.m. for kids to come and get help, even if they weren’t in his class. His legacy was the fact that he was determined to not give up on any student and to do everything humanly possible to help them learn. He offered many life lessons in class along with stories , corny jokes, sayings and life lessons. His legacy was love. Every student knew the love he had for his family because he never missed an opportunity to talk about them. The students knew he loved them and went the extra mile for them. He was a humble man who taught and coached thousands of students, their children, and even their grandchildren. He was a role model for other teachers and the students. He inspired many students to follow in his footsteps to become teachers and coaches. His legacy will live on forever through his family and students.
The family is looking forward to the stories to be told at the visitation on Wednesday evening, November 2nd, from 6 pm-8 pm at Myers and Smith Funeral Home. His service will be at First Baptist Church of Big Spring on Thursday, November 3rd, at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations can be made to the Steve Park Legacy Gift Fund (Forsan ISD, Box 689, Forsan, Texas 79733).
One last time….Good morning.
https://www.myersandsmith.com/obituaries/Stephen-Douglas-Park?obId=26263895#/celebrationWall
Contributed on 4/11/24 by neldapat
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Record #: 593396