Steven Ross McConnell

April 12th, 1950 – March 17th, 2025

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Steven Ross McConnell, a legendary father, teacher and mentor to so many. Steve left us on March 17th, 2025 while spending time in his favorite sanctuary, the cabin in the woods he built and shared with his wife, Paula McConnell on an acreage in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

He was born on April 12th, 1950, in Hershey, Nebraska, the 5th of 6 children to Elva & George McConnell. The family moved around and eventually settled in Oklahoma where Steve McConnell met his wife of over 51 years at the young age of 20. While relentlessly but lovingly always giving each other a hard time, they had 3 Children – Peter, Joseph & Cara.

Steve was blessed with an incredible talent for the arts which lead him to become a teacher at only 25 years old, starting a career at Bishop McGuiness High School in 1975 that spanned 48 years until 2023. His pottery, meticulous ink line drawings, watercolors, lithographic work, as well as the Icons painted at Bishop McGuinness will continue to brighten the walls and lives of his family, coworkers, students and friends.

Steve’s approach to teaching first gave space to his students, then invited them to view the world from a shifted perspective, taught them to fold emotions and beauty into their craftmanship, while sharing joy and so much humor. This brought him awards, acclaim and love from every corner of life. It also made going to the grocery store with him difficult, due to his local fame. He was loved, but he was also genuinely liked, because he liked you first.

In alignment with his spirit, and in honor of his love of storytelling, his family is holding a memorial gathering at Bishop McGuinness High School on Sunday April 6th, 2025, from 2-4pm to create time for stories, swap classic quotes and jokes, and support each other.

In In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Nature Conservancy, for the J T Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Steven Ross McConnell is survived by his wife Paula McConnell, his sister Shirley Morrow, son Peter and wife Emily McConnell, and their children Sophia and Charlie McConnell; son Joe and his wife Lindsey McConnell; and daughter Cara McConnell.