Help us Pay It Forward in honor of Steven Felkner

Hi, my name is Sabrina Stevenson and I am joining the friends and family of Steven Felkner to create a fund that will allow us to honor his memory in a way that would make him proud. We are mourning his passing, but know that Steven would want us to focus our energy and love on others - Just as he always did.

Steven left us far too soon when a terminal condition struck without warning. One day he was full of laughter and the next he was fighting for his life. Steven was only 36 years old when we were forced to say our final good-bye's. On the night he died, I made a promise to look out for the family he was leaving behind - the family he was born into and the family he chose. I promised to honor his memory by spreading more joy, spending more energy and time caring for others, and paying it forward whenever and wherever I could.

UPDATE! Steven's family had hoped to honor his life by sharing his love of learning and his passion for helping others by creating a scholarship fund at Pierce College that would aid low-income students in pursuing a college education; however, we did not make our primary goal. So, we are now focused on our secondary goal: To create a Free Little Library to be placed beside a commemorative bench at Waughop Lake in Fort Steilacoom Park - where Steven walked nearly every day. This library will be filled with books from Steven's own "Book Hoard" and supplemented by books and monetary donations from friends and family.

Steven was a kind soul disguised in the bear of a man. On the outside, people saw a large man with dark hair and beard, always wearing black, with a sly grin on his face and a sinister glint in his eyes. His quick wit, incredible intellect, and sharp sarcasm could be intimidating. But those who took the time to get to know the real Steven - who he was inside - know him to be funny, creative, thoughtful, devoted, and compassionate. He was a seeker of knowledge, an avid reader, an advocate for social justice, and a brilliant historian: He also possessed a dark sense of humor, loved debating historical "facts" and politics, and could always be counted on to speak his mind - bluntly, but respectfully. Steven paid attention to the little things most of us were just "too busy" to bother with. He always noticed when someone was down and did what he could to lift them up. He dedicated his life to helping others, personally and professionally, touching more lives than he would ever admit. Steven is remembered for leaving little trinkets and notes that made us smile when we needed it most; bringing us snacks and meds when we weren't taking care of ourselves; just being by our side, even when we said we were fine; taking the extra time needed to help the most vulnerable students at the college where he worked; and could always be counted on for a hug. Most of all - he was a loyal and devoted friend. Steven always said there is the family you are born into and the family you choose - his friends were his "chosen family". That is who Steven truly was at his core: That is who we will miss with all our hearts.

Thank you for taking the time to read about Steven and for considering our cause. Any donation you are able to share is greatly appreciated and will go directly toward supporting our efforts to continue helping others and spreading our mutual love of literacy and learning in Steven's memory. Please share this GoFundMe link with your family and friends. The more we raise, the more people we are able to help.