Stephen A. French

He left us in the early morning,
When softly came the dawn.
And since he never said good-bye,
It's hard to think he's gone.

He left us suddenly and way too soon,
With aching hearts and an abundance of car parts,
But we know the angels are holding him tight,
And we can feel his hugs deep in our hearts.

The memory of Stephen will always linger,
Sweetly, tender, strong and true,
There's not a day that goes by, Sweet Stephen,
That we will not be thinking of you.


It is with great sadness that the family of Stephen A. French announces his departure to heaven, on Saturday, December 15, 2018, at the age of 28 years. He was born on June 16, of 1990.

Stephen took fashion cues from no one. His signature every day look was all his: a humorous graphic T-shirt designed by the fashion house of buy one get one free, his oil stained plain blue jeans, and tennis shoes so big they had to be specially ordered. Stephen was to everybody exactly what they needed; which meant something different to each person. The most important person in his life was his mother and he saw it as an honor and not a chore to always be there for her.

There is not a man that didn't want to shake his hand and a woman that didn't want to be hugged by him. He was the first to give you the coat off his back and then tell you to put some meat on your bones. Stephen never learned how to tell a lie, or speak words of hate, and wore his heart on his sleeve for all to hold at no cost. He invented the perfect hug and was a mastermind of solving puzzles. If he was near you there was no fear in your heart.

He grew up in Olathe terrorizing skating rinks, dominating bowling alleys, ridding ponds of fish, and spending nights of slumber in the woods. As he grew older, his time between work and family was spent towards his passions of chopping broccoli and filling pans of motor oil.

Stephen observed more than he spoke. He listened more than he asked, and he always gave more than he received. He was a family man, a neighbor's friend, a loyal employee, and a man with the ability to engage in every favor asked of him and forge a relationship with anyone. With his seemingly endless positive traits, he had the potential to be anything from an inspiring chef to a determined auto mechanic.

When Stephen opened his arms, you ran to his embrace. When your car engine was smoking it was his headlights you saw approaching in your rearview mirror. When you needed the shift change at work, he was the one to pick up your hours. When his mother arrived home from work it was the smell of his BBQ smoked chicken that filled the air. When you asked to borrow his tools, he not only lent them to you but gave you a pair of helping hands. He was the kind of man that taught you how to fish and gave you the ones he caught. He was the man of the house, a mother's greatest gift, the friend for life, the brother and cousin everyone dreamed of having. As an avid auto mechanic, inspirational chef, Stephen's real and abiding passions were his family and friends, and the power of a smile.

Stephen was the third of four children, raised by a wonderful mother in Olathe, with two brothers and one sister. Stephen is survived by his beloved mother, Jennifer French, Brother Chris French (wife Rachael), Sister Tiffany Nicole French (partner Greg Rodgers), and his adored nephew Gregory Rodgers III, Grandmother Geneva Jackson, Uncle & Aunt William (Bill) & Christina Jackson, and close Cousins Michelle Fisher, William (Billy) Jackson, Maria Dishman, and Angela Pittman.

He was preceded in death by his Father, James C. French, Brother Michael R. French, and Grandfather William J. Jackson.

Visitation will be held from 9-10AM on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at Penwell-Gabel Cremations, Funerals & Receptions, Olathe, Kansas. Funeral services will follow visitation at 10AM.

Memorials are suggested to the Stephen A. French go fund me page www.gofundme.com/burial-services-stephen-french

In lieu of tears, tune-up your car and check the air pressure in your tires – he would have wanted that.



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