Stephen Damele, 60

Stephen Douglas Damele, 60, of Mountain Home, died Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at his residence.

Funeral mass will be held today, Wednesday, June 1, at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Gooding. Burial will be held at Eureka County Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, in Eureka, Nev. Arrangements are under the direction of Summers Funeral Homes, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home.

Stephen was born July 1, 1944, in Elko, Nev. He was raised on the JD Ranch, a successful family ranching operation. He graduated from Eureka High School in 1962.

Stephen married Pauline Joan Streeter in 1969.

He served in the Army National Guard from 1965 until being honorably discharged in 1971.

Stephen started his own ranching operation at Sheep Creek Ranch in 1970. They moved to Richfield in December 1989 to expand his ranching operation. Stephen successfully bought and sold various ranches in Idaho (Middleton, Gooding and Mountain Home).

Stephen enjoyed deer hunting with friends, especially his eldest daughter Jennifer, watching his younger daughter Audrey play basketball and spending time with his son, Stephen, doing ranching activities.

"He also always made time and enjoyed his grandchildren along with going to all of their activities," his family noted, adding, "He was an excellent piano player and was in a band that played at various places from Elko and Carlin, Nev., to Battle Mountain and Taylor Canyon."

He also played the clarinet and was first clarinet for the University of Nevada Band while in attendance there.

Stephen enjoyed going to bull sales, team sorting, new cars and pickups and working cows, as well as going to Jackpot every so often.

"He was a devoted family man which was his number one goal in life and attribute," his family said.

Stephen served on Soil Conservation Boards in Nevada and on the Salmon River Cattlemen Association Board of Directors.

Stephen is survived by: his wife, Pauline; daughters Jennifer (Kurt) Shetler and Audrey (Jeremy) Morris; son Stephen (Sarah) Damele; brothers Charles (Patty) Damele and R.D. (Arlene) Damele; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Charlie and Nita Damele.