Steven Joe Dowty

Funeral services for Steven Joe Dowty will be held Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Claremore First Methodist Church. Visitation will be Monday, March 9, 2026 at MMS-Payne Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Steve passed away on Saturday February 28th, 2026 at the age of 64.

Steven Joe Dowty was born February 25, 1962 in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Russell and Shirley (Neely) Dowty. He spent his early childhood in Tulsa before his family moved to the Sequoyah area when he was about eight years old. There Steve would attended Sequoyah schools and graduated from Sequoyah High School in 1980.

While attending Sequoyah High School he met Sara Frederick. The couple began dating in October of 1980 and were married on February 28, 1981. They made their home in the Sequoyah community, on the same land where he was raised. He was proud that he raised his family there as well.

At the time of his marriage Steve was working for Suburban Chevrolet. A short time later her returned to Steel Service where he had worked briefly before. Through years of dedication and strong work ethic, he was given the opportunity to become a partner in the company around 1994. Steel Service continues to grow and operate today. In addition to his work in business, Steve was very active in serving his community. He served on the Sequoyah School Board for 25 years and was currently serving on the board of the Port Authority.

Family was always at the center of Steve’s life. He supported his children in whatever activities interested them. He coached little league baseball for his boys, and when his daughters developed an interest in showing pigs, he built a pig barn and made sure they had quality animals to work with. That same support carried on to his grandchildren. Steve loved taking family trips, whether it was skiing, heading to the mountains, visiting Padre Island, or wherever the family wanted to travel. Though he was known as a calm and steady person, his children often remember the “life lessons” he shared along the way. During those times he usually wasn't as calm.

Steve also had a deep love for the outdoors. Hunting and fishing were among his favorite pastimes and had been since he was young. His mother often told stories about how he would run trap lines as a boy and be gone for a couple of days. Forgetting to tell anyone he was going. He took many hunting and fishing trips from Canada to Mexico and everywhere in between. Later in life he took great pride in getting to take his children and grandchildren on many adventures as well. Gathering at the family farm up north was a long standing tradition. There he taught his children and grandchildren the same outdoor skills and traditions that he loved so much.

Steve will be remembered as a humble and giving man who was devoted to his family and committed to his community. He also enjoyed sharing stories about his many hunting and fishing adventures with those who wanted to listen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Dowty and Shirley Dowty Payne and her husband Gerry; and a special uncle, David Dowty.

Survivors include his wife, Sara Dowty; children, Steven Dowty and wife Daisy, Jake Dowty and wife Amber, Kayla Ward and husband Zach, and Jessica Dowty and Will Wood; grandchildren, Wyatt, Lane, Lily, Hunter, and Brooklynn Dowty, Paisley and Kennedy Ward, and Jaycee Wood; sister, Chris Baldridge; aunts and uncles, Eddie Dowty, Glenda Merkle, Ross Neely, Charlie Neely, and Carol Freeman; lifelong friend Rusty Fleming; and many other extended family members and friends.