We praise God for the life, love, and friendship of an extraordinary man.  Stephen Edward Nash was born to Nelson Edward Nash, Jr., and Helen "Lucille" Bullard Nash on Oct. 24, 1954, in Ennis, TX.  Their first two children had died in infancy, due to RH blood factor problems.  Then Lucille was treated by Dr. Marianna Hood of Dallas, enabling Steve to be born healthy.  Steve went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christon Oct. 27, 2025, at age 71.

Steve was raised in a Christian home. As a nine-year-old, one evening he was singing, "Do Lord, Oh, Do Remember Me" and realized he needed to be saved, so he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  He lived his life as a committed Christian.

Steve grew up as such an avid athlete, sports fan, and sportswriter that later his Grandpa name was "Sport."  He excelled as a pitcher and outfielder on the Optimist team in little league and pony league and in high school baseball, as a quarterback and punter in jr. high and high school football, as a basketball player, and as a track team member.  He won the Pass, Punt, and Kick competition at age 9. He played football, baseball, and basketball in his neighborhood, where he also organized track meets and gave out ribbons. During the 5thand 6th grades at Travis Elementary School, he was the quarterback for the flag football team, was the leading scorer in basketball, and ran track, including the sprint relay team.  In jr. high school, he was a quarterback through two undefeated seasons.  He was a varsity letterman at Ennis High School, helping to lead the Lions to many victories.  Steve was named All-District outstanding sophomore in high school baseball. He later became Coach Nash, as he coached and taught in his early career. In his later years, Steve still had an athletic mindset that included playing pickleball, golf, outdoor yard work and activities, and strength training even through his final year.

Steve loved his parents, family, and friends.  He always wanted to honor his father and mother.  He met Patricia Ann "Patti" Smith at church and they were married on September 2, 1976.  They welcomed son Travis Noah Nash in 1982.  Steve was a very devoted husband and father. He pampered Patti, studied the Bible and attended church with her, sang with her, walked and gardened with her, and took long and short trips together.  Their son Travis married Amanda Wroten of Paris, TX, in 2005, and they welcomed Noelle in 2009 and Collin in 2013.  Steve was also a very devoted and fun "Sport," and he supported his grandchildren in as many of their activities as possible.  He cherished his friendships, many that were lifelong.

Steve was very intelligent and had an incredible memory for events, numbers, sports scores, academic studies, Bible studies, and songs.  In elementary school, he did peer tutoring and won math contests in the classroom. As a sixth grade student, he won the district spelling bee and placed second in the county-wide spelling bee against an eighth grade student.  At Ennis High School, he earned awards in bookkeeping and in English.  He was a sportswriter for the Ennis Daily News and umpired little league and jr. college baseball games, as well as being employed by Ennis Business Forms, Corsicana Daily Sun, Billy Ables Construction, and the U.S. Corps of Engineers as a lake ranger while he worked his way through college.  He attended Navarro College (Associate's Degree,) Texas A & M Univ., Univ. of TX Arlington, Univ. of TX Dallas, and North Texas State University (Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Texas Public School Administrator Certification, and Texas Public School Superintendent Certification.)  He also took courses at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and from B. H. Carroll Seminary.

Steve felt that God wanted him to change his career plan from journalism to coaching and education in order to influence young people and to be with his family on Sundays.  He coached multiple sports and taught science and PE at various Texas schools.  He became Assistant Principal at Springtown High School, then Principal at Shelbyville High School, Red Oak Intermediate, Hawkins H. S., Corbett Jr. High in Schertz, Gilmer H.S., Hereford H. S., and McKinney H. S.  Then he served as Superintendent of Schools at Detroit ISD, Scurry-Rosser ISD, and Gustine ISD, all in Texas. He put students first, and all of these schools showed great benefit from his expertise in discipline, improved student achievement, and extracurricular activities.  He added dances, lunchtime intramural competitions, and student mural art to enhance student and staff morale.

Steve loved being a Dad and was very close to his son Travis.  They did many activities together as Travis grew up:  sports, church, reading, music including guitar and singing, raising animals, serious conversation, and having fun.  Steve and Patti attended the Texas A & M football games to support Travis as he played trumpet in the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.  After Travis and Amanda married and moved to Florida, his parents visited them and were delighted when they moved back to Texas. He enjoyed close proximity with them.  Steve loved being "Sport" to his grandchildren, Noelle and Collin.  He was always eager to attend their birthday parties, dance recitals, sports activities, and choir and band concerts.  He loved playing with them and making sure they knew he loved them.  He made holidays special for them.

Steve was a man of many talents and interests, with many chapters in his life.  He was a good storyteller and had many interesting tales, both good and bad, to share about his childhood, family, sporting events, and the schools in which he worked. After retirement, Steve enjoyed gathering with friends at local cafes for coffee and conversation.  He gave good gifts and made holiday seasons fun.  He liked taking his grandkids to see the bluebonnets and to visit the camels and zebras at High View Farms. He also enjoyed making "vanilla milk" and cooking sausage or "flat eggs" for them and grilling steaks for the family.  He was a lifelong Ennis Lions and Dallas Cowboys fan, and he attended many of the Lions football games. He helped to plan the 50th reunion for the EHS class of 1973.

Steve loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and wanted to share Him with others.  He taught 5th, 10th, and 11th grade and then adult Sunday School classes, and he preached occasionally. He believed that the Bible is God's Word and that God answers prayer.  A natural musician with a strong tenor voice, Steve loved to sing country songs and play his guitar.  He enjoyed singing songs by Elvis, Elton John, Lee Greenwood, Paul Simon, and other popular songs with wife Patti at the piano.  He made music to the Lord in choirs, in quartets, as a soloist, in duets with his dad Nelson or Patti, and more recently in a trio.

Steve stepped in to help people when he could.  For example, he pulled two people (on two separate occasions) from their burning homes, warned others to leave apartments that were on fire, and climbed over a pew to lift up a cameraman who fell at church.  While Steve was Superintendent of Schools at Scurry-Rosser, by God's Providence he made the almost unheard-of decision to hire a 64-year old High School Principal, Richard Sneed of Denison, who confronted a former student-turned gunman. The attacker tried to set fire and shoot the students and faculty, but Mr. Sneed was able to fend off his attack enough to enable nearby coaches and athletes to subdue and remove him from the building. This extraordinary man Steve Nash was preceded in death by his parents Nelson Jr. and Lucille Nash; infant brother Nelson Lee and sister Marilyn Lucille; grandparents Nelson and Ruby Nash, Lela Bullard, and Lee Bullard;  Aunts Ruby Dodgen, Wanda Fay Murff, and Shirley Cox; Uncle Bud Nash; and cousin Jason Cox.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patti Nash; son Travis Nash and his wife Amanda Nash; grandchildren Noelle Nash and Collin Nash; Uncle J Lee Bullard; cousins Susie Stoddard, Shara Bryson, Detra Terrell, and Nicole Bullard Birch;  sister- and brother-in-law Sue and Eliot Chapo, brother- and sister-in-lawReid and Cindy Smith, and many extended family members.