Frank Stell, Jr.
In fair remembrance of Frank H. Stell Jr., we gather our hearts and words to weave the tapestry of his life, a tale as rich and vibrant as the landscapes he so cherished. Born under the winter’s gentle gaze in Antlers, Oklahoma, on the twentieth of January, in the year of our Lord 1933, Frank embarked upon life’s stage, a journey that would span the breadth of 92 well-lived years, until the twenty-fourth of May, 2025, in Winslow, Arizona, where he did breathe his last.
Frank, known to all as a man of character, did grace the earth with the strength of his presence. His life, a testament to love’s enduring flame, was shared with his beloved wife, Myrtle Stell, and their lineage, Judy, Rick with his wife Larri Lyn, and Jack Reed, born not of his blood but of his heart. The branches of his family tree did further extend to his cherished grandchildren, Lisa with her husband Brian Kemp, Sean with his wife Flaca Stell, Shannon Stell, Rick Stell Jr with his wife Brandy, Jake Reed, and Raynee Reed, and to the tender buds of nine great-grandchildren, who will grow in the garden of his memory. Though preceded in death by his noble parents, Frank Stell, Sr. and Rubye Stell, his sister Diana Wyrick, and his grandson Kash Reed, his legacy remains, unfaltering as the stars that guide the night.
For four decades, Frank commanded the iron steeds of the Santa Fe, a train engineer of formidable skill and dedication. His hands, both firm and gentle, guided countless journeys across the woven tracks of this great land. As the locomotives roared and whistled, so too did his heart beat with the rhythm of the rails.
His passions were as diverse as the world is wide. Frank found solace in the saddle, a horseman of great repute, spending over thirty years in the pursuit of team roping, where he and his steed moved as one. The greens and fairways knew his stride, and the fates did smile upon him on that fateful day, January 29th 1999, when with his trusty 8 Iron, he struck a ball upon TPC Scottsdale’s Desert Course, Hole number six, and watched it sail, a true shot of 155 yards, to earn his place among the hallowed halls of those who’ve known a hole-in-one.
Upon the water’s edge, Frank found peace, whether it be upon skis that cut the lake like glass or with rod and reel in hand, the quiet companion of fish that swam below. Yet, of all his interests, none did shine as brightly as his love for family. In them, he invested his heart, his time, his all.
Frank was the epitome of love, a generous spirit who gave without thought of return, a selfless soul whose actions spoke the volumes words could scarce contain. He walked among us as a beacon of devotion, his life a mirror to the virtues he held dear.
Let it be known that Frank H. Stell Jr. lived. He loved. He left this mortal coil richer for his presence, and though he takes his leave, his story endures in the hearts of those he touched. For as long as tales of selfless love and generosity are told, so too will the name of Frank H. Stell Jr. echo through the ages. Rest well, thou good and faithful servant, until we meet again.
“That’s all, dude!”
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Suicide Prevention or to the ASPCA.