Stephen “Steve” Lynk Barner, 64, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Cassville, Missouri.
Steve was born on Sept. 4, 1959, in Wellington, Kansas, the son of Eldon Lynk Barner and Carroll L. (Walker) Shivers. Steve spent his early childhood in Belle Plaine, Kansas before moving to Maud, Oklahoma in 1974. He was baptized in the Methodist Church in Belle Plaine. He was closest to God when he was out in nature.
He graduated from Maud High School in 1978 and went on to play one year of football for Southeastern Oklahoma State University before joining the United States Air Force in 1979.
In 1983, Steve returned to Maud, where he met LaDonna Moore. In 1985 the two were married in Bowlegs, Oklahoma and moved to Jonestown, Texas.
The family moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1987 where Steve attended Oklahoma State University. Steve graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from OSU.
In 1990, Steve took a job with the NRCS where the family moved from Medford, Oklahoma., Sedan, Kansas, and finally settled in Eufaula in 2000.
Steve was a dedicated conservationist for 34 years. He improved, redeveloped, and developed thousands of acres of wetlands throughout the state of Oklahoma.
Steve loved to travel with his wife Ladonna and fly fish all over the country.
When he was home, he would spend his time hunting, trapping, and working outdoors on his mile worth of blackberries and muscadines and sawmill.
If he wasn’t enjoying the great outdoors, he would devour a book in no time as an avid reader. His hands were never idle, there was always something that could be done.
By far his favorite thing was to spend time with his family and grandkids teaching them all he knew including how to trap and identify plants and animal tracks.
He is survived by his wife LaDonna Diane Barner of Eufaula; three children, Zachary Lynk Barner, Axel Barner and Tulsa Adams all of Eufaula; daughter-in-law Ashley Barner, and sonin- law Robert Adams; five grandchildren, Dalli Barner, Dixie Barner, Dayci Barner, Stihl Barner, and Nash Adams; his mother, Carroll L Shivers; and one sibling, Mark Barner; sister-inlaw, Tami Barner; nieces, Raven Sanderson, Jade Hood and Sage Barner.
He is preceded in death by his father, Eldon Lynk Barner.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any funeral donations be directed towards the purchase of fruit tree(s) in remembrance of Steve Barner.
The tree(s) will be planted by his children and grandchildren on the land they enjoyed so much with Steve.
For donations, please call Hunn Black & Merritt Funeral Home & Crematory – 918-6892553.
