Raven Stevens, 35

Raven Stevens died in Hood River, Ore., on Jan. 6, 2010. He was born at home at Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park on June 2, 1974. He was raised and nurtured in his first year of life at the base of Purple Mountain and the remainder of his childhood was spent in Trego. Raven attended Trego Elementary and Eureka High School, graduating in 1993. In 2000 Raven graduated from the University of Montana as a teacher and taught at the school he had attended as a youngster. For the past three years, Raven and his sister Eve lived near Hood River. With his sister and his friends he explored the surroundings of the Hood River area, spending weekends hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and skiing. Raven loved working at Bryant Pipe, a local irrigation company during the summer and Mount Hood Meadows, a local ski resort during the winter. Raven had many passions " He was an amazing athlete with an ability to master any challenge he put his mind to. He wrestled throughout his K-12 years, winning the Buzz Lucey Tournament four times and a state championship. He was passionate about weight lifting, kayaking and mountain biking, never afraid to find the line and ride it to the finish. He had a remarkable sense of special balance and walked on his hands about as much as he walked on his feet. He was an avid photographer, recording what he saw with an eye for detail and for beauty in the ordinary. Raven had an incredible capacity for knowledge " from sports stats to the names of mountain ranges and plants, he knew what he was talking about or was always ready to learn what he didn t. He loved food and was well known for eating anything ... in quantity. He had a quirky sense of humor and loved pranks and practical jokes. He was goal-oriented and never afraid to challenge himself or others to just do it. He inspired so many in a quiet way, from showing his nephew how to tie a top-knot for rock climbing to showing his sister how to make it down the mountain bike trail in one piece. As a teacher he connected with his students in a special way and loved taking the kids out of the classroom and into the world. He cared deeply for others and had an innate ability to build instant friendships with all who met him. He lived in the land of no regrets and found it beautiful. Raven loved and is loved beyond measure and he is deeply missed. Raven is survived by his father, Bill Stevens, and his wife, Mel; his mother, Carolynn Moritz, and her husband, Chris; his sister, Sensei Powell, and her husband, Stacy, and nephews, Raser and Reush; his sister, Eve Stevens; his stepsister, Clover Kincheloe; and stepbrother, Casey Evans; as well as lots of relatives and friends in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Virginia. An education/adventure fund is being set up for Raven s favorite beings in the world, nephews Raser and Reush Powell, at Parkside Federal Credit Union. For information about donating to the fund, please contact Eve Stevens at eves@waggeneredstrom.com; or Beth Lewis-Anderson at betha@waggeneredstrom.com. A memorial service was celebrated at St. Mary s Catholic Church in Hood River on Jan. 10 attended by relatives and by many of his friends from Oregon, Washington and Montana. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at Our Lady of Swan Valley Catholic Church in Condon, with burial following at 1 p.m. at the Bigfork Cemetery, Lee Road and Swan River Road. All are welcome. The family will also be celebrating Raven this summer in Trego.