In this crazy thing that we call life, we come across such a wide variety of people along the way.
Each of us knows people that we couldn’t live without, and a few that we definitely wish we had never known. We all have struggles, and we all have joys. And I think if we are honest, we all have moments in our lives when things could have gone a different way.
Forks in the road you might say. Some people call them defining moments. You might look back at some days and think about the “what ifs” in some situations. I honestly believe that there are a whole bunch of us folks that can say we are blessed and living a pretty good life, but there might have been one of these pivotal moments when things could have turned out way different for us. That is what I would like to focus on this week.
Steve Greer died. You may not recognize the full name, but you’ll certainly know just “Steve,” if you’re ever in De Kalb. Before Steve walked the right-ofway of Highway 82 across Bowie County and back over and over and over, he was a crafty carpenter. He was skilled in the construction business as a hand for Preacher Lane’s construction crew. If Preacher Lane built your house, it’s possible some of Steve’s lasting work is part of your legacy.
Steve was also a shade tree mechanic. Before he turned out to vagabond and wander, he lived with his mother over on SE South Street in a small frame house next to the old GTE truck yard. He drove a dark green 50’s Chevrolet stepside pickup truck back then. And just as you may have known him recently, he wasn’t much for words back then either. He was pretty quiet even back when he had a Mama whom he lived with, a job with Preacher Lane, and a truck to drive around.
Collectively we don’t know how or what changed since those days, but they did. He was still ours to know. Ours to keep. And ours to mourn now that he’s gone to wander way beyond De Kalb.
He also had times when he lived on SE Austin across from the Jehovah’s Witness Church.
Steve’s family took to social media this past week to share some thoughts about him. They said: …if you have befriended him over the years, blessed him with food, clothes, a ride somewhere, a place to lay his head at night, a prayer, monetary donation or anything else or even just a said something kind to him, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for the ones that didn’t know he was homeless for over 30 years, he has lived in Dekalb most of his life and spent many days and nights in the elements of the weather, but by the grace of God and the kind hearts of this community he survived, he had been in a house about three years that he was truly thankful for. He suffered from many mental issues and epileptic seizures, he could be nice as could be but he also could be hateful and say some awful things to you, he even was very distant to us family for many years , and as I’m sure a lot of people well knows, if he had those sun shades on, you were just better off to pass on and not approach him, but deep down he had a heart of gold. But fought some powerful demons inside. He went to be with the Lord sometime over the weekend and will be put to rest in Madisonville,Texas. Please keep us in your prayers, may God bless all the kindhearted people in DeKalb and surrounding areas.
Like most in DeKalb, I have some memories of Steve, good and bad. I once stood between him and some Girl Scouts that he was yelling at for being too loud. That was one of his bad days. Then again, I once gave him a ride from New Boston to DeKalb. He had walked all the way to New Boston to go to the library. We shared a polite conversation and though I could tell he was uncomfortable, he was friendly.
There were many other times when a meal was bought, or a simple stop to ask him if he needed anything. Most of the time he would say he was okay and there were those days when he would just stare at you and walk away. There are so many that could recount similar stories about him.
Steve, whichever version you might best remember, was a DeKalb icon. His life will be long remembered by those who have a deep love of the town in their heart. He may not qualify as a Noble Heart, but he was a part of that heart, and through that, his heart still beats.
So long Steve.
