Florence Nashert Stepp

If you're really fortunate, there is a special someone who graces your life with a gentle and open heart. In our lives that someone is Flo Stepp, who nurtured so very many souls along her life journey as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and dear friend. In the early morning hours of November 7th, surrounded in love by her husband and children, she passed away from this world and into a bright, new life where there's no pain, tension or sadness. Flo was born on February 25, 1935, the fourth child of Agnes and Edmund Nashert of Oklahoma City. A "cradle Catholic" in every way, she grew up with two brothers, Bob and Don, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Marilyn. She attended mass at St. Joseph's Old Cathedral, and graduated from Catholic High School in 1953. She attended the University of Oklahoma for one year, studying secretarial and administrative skills, and went on to work as an administrative assistant and master of shorthand at the Paramount Pictures screening room on Film Row. In 1957 Flo met the love of her life, Frank Granville Stepp, who swept her off her feet, slipped a ring on her finger and spent the next 57 years by her side, right up until the very moment of her passing. Flo and Frank joyfully brought five children into the world: Tim, Todd, John, Jennifer and Frank Jr. Their home was a flurry of activity and family life, and along with their own children, they also embraced many neighborhood kids, and a few lucky nieces and nephews. Flo was always there to offer a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, band-aids for scraped knees, or a gentle hug to vanquish sadness. The Stepp family vacations were outdoor adventures at lakes and in mountains, complete with tents, campfires and marshmallows roasting on sticks. And Flo was the kind of mom who was game to go hiking and exploring with the kids, splash around in the lake, and stir up a pot of stew on a camp stove. For her, maybe the only thing as great as being a mom was becoming a mother-in-law to Jenny, who married Frank Jr., Carmen, who married John, and Kathy, who married Tim. Flo was delighted to welcome four wonderful granddaughters—Seren, Brenna, Jessica and Lindsey—and the girls were equally delighted in every moment they spent with their "Grandma Woofie". In addition to her favored roles of wife and mother, Flo devoted more than 25 years to a career as an administrator in the office of the chief of surgery at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. She was an active member of St. Eugene Catholic Church, where she helped with a range of volunteer duties, and a longtime volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, assisting families in need in Oklahoma City. Rarely have we known a more giving, accepting or open-minded person. Our lovely "Floss" is the magic glue that held our family together regardless of our ups and downs, our differences and our foibles. We can hardly imagine being here without her sweet presence to soften the rough edges, and yet we know we can move forward because of the seeds of hope and kindness that she planted deep in our hearts. A rosary service will be held on Monday, 11/10 at 7 PM, at Smith & Kernke Funeral Directors, 14624 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City. A funeral mass will follow on Tuesday at 10 AM at St. Eugene Catholic Church, 2400 W. Hefner Road, with entombment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 7801 NW Expressway. Please gather with us to honor this beautiful life.