Steven S. MacArthur (USAF) “Headed West” on January 28, 2021.
Steven Sumner MacArthur, son of Arthur Edgar MacArthur and Estella Faye Sumner, was born on April 30, 1943, in Provo, Utah, and passed away on January 28, 2021, also in Provo, Utah at the age of 77.
He wrote his own obituary. This, the latest version, he wrote after the death of his dear sister Cheril. It is as follows:
Don’t cry for me as I pass through the veil. I will still love you from there and pray for your success. I have had a wonderful life. I was blessed to be born in America in the 1940s at the end of WW II, into the Church, and with hard-working parents who loved their children. I was blessed with my older brothers Creig, Sumner (who died at birth), younger sister Cheril, and brother Trevan. My parents encouraged us to do well in school, to work hard, and to be good.
I grew up having wonderful teachers. I loved sports and was able to play summer baseball in jr. high and on the varsity high school football and basketball teams. I was blessed to find and fall in love with Sandy Ivie at Utah State University.
I was blessed with good vision and with a commission in the U.S. Air Force able to fly fighters in Vietnam and instruct in the wonderful T-38. I was blessed to be able to become a physician and care for women in Obstetrics and Gynecology and to practice with my wonderful friend and colleague Steve Bigler. He made everything in medicine so much more enjoyable from the first day I met him.
Sandy and I were blessed with 7 children who are striving to do their best. They are raising wonderful families, blessing us with 27 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. I tried hard to take care of my children and patients the best way I knew how. I am thankful that they agreed to let me share in their lives.
I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, to be born after the restoration of the gospel to guide me throughout my life and to know that my family is my most precious possession. I have fallen short as a father and husband but thankfully my failings were not too awful or irreparable. We will all be together soon in our Heavenly Father’s kingdom. It will be wonderful. “Doubt not, fear not; look to me (Jesus Christ) in every thought” D&C 36:6.
Steven’s life was dedicated to serving others. His military and medical careers along with his church service exemplified that. While in the Air Force he received many citations including a Top Gun award and the Distinguished Flying Cross. His medical practice was dedicated to the thousands of women and babies he cared for. Steven served 2 church missions with Sandra. The first was as the Central America Medical Advisor based in Guatemala from 2009 to 2011. The second was in the SLC Utah Headquarters mission from 2017 to 2018.
Steven enjoyed 4 wheeling trips with Sandra and their group of friends, traveling throughout the state of Utah.
Steven is survived by his wife Sandra, siblings Creig (Lisa) and Trevan (Sondra), and his children Bret, Danielle (Reid) Lofgran, Steffanie (Corey) Norton, Stacey, Damon (Meghan), Garret (Koren), Rachel (Clint) Rogers and all of his grand and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Sumner and Cheril.
Graveside services were held at the Historic Springville Cemetery, Springville, Utah on Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021.
A celebration of his life was held by the family on the same day.
Source: Steven Sumner MacArthur Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information (bergmortuary.com)