Stanley Allen Stuefloten

Stanley Allen Stuefloten of Eatonville, WA., went home to be with Jesus on November 28, 2018 at age 80 in Tacoma, Washington. Born September 27, 1938 in Colusa, California. He was the son of Stanley J. Stuefloten and Ilene (DeWees) Stuefloten, pre-deceased. The grandson of Ole J Stuefloten and Louise (Fields) Stuefloten, (who was the niece of Cyrus Fields, who was responsible for laying the first transatlantic cable to Europe), pre-deceased, and grandson of Lewis Allen DeWees and Mary Myrtle (Westbrook) DeWees, pre-deceased. He leaves behind a wife of 58 years, Joyce L. (Graves) Stuefloten and sons, Stephen Allan Stuefloten and Russell Allan Stuefloten; 5 grandchildren, Kristina Marie Stuefloten, Dana Lynn Stuefloten, Margaret Joyce Stuefloten, Patrick Russell Stuefloten and Ethan Alexander Stuefloten. Known as "Allen" growing up because he and his father shared the same first name however, due to being in the U.S. Army for 8 and a half years, he gradually became "Stan". He grew up in Paradise, California but lived in New Mexico and Texas for a time before oming back to California and living with his grandparents while finishing high school. After high school, he went to Simpson Bible School in San Francisco, California for two years (it later moved to Redding, California and is now a University). He met his wife while attending a bible school in Seattle, Washington and they later married in April of 1960. His first job was at the 4th and Pike building where he did janitor work. He entered the Army in the fall of 1960 and served until 1969. He was a combat engineer in the army and obtained the rank of Specialist 5 during the Vietnam era. He became part of a program in the army that aided with the transition into civilian life and worked a career job part-time. He got into trucking which started with the transport of mobile homes. By the time he relocated to the West Coast he was hauling boats from Everett to California. Later he got on with a trucking company hauling different types of loads and hauled to Canada and across the United States and often hauled freight for the military as well. He worked for several companies and at times was self-employed. Over the years he had hauled loads to nearly every state and most of the western Canadian provinces including the Yukon. He spent 35 years in trucking and upon retirement he ultimately retired from Swift Trucking. But feeling as though he still needed work, but at a lighter basis, he drove school buses in Yelm and then for First Student in Steilacoom. Finally retiring from all of that, he spent some time on his hobby of photography and took a class at the local community college and took trips around the state taking pictures. He was very proud of his sons. He helped with their Cub Scouting when he could and went on camping and family trips when they were growing up as well as attending church together. He enjoyed helping his wife do the Lions Festival Art Show which they did together for 8 years, showing his photography and her art. He enjoyed trips to the mountains and the ocean as well as family gatherings. He was active in his church for a time and in the American Legion, becoming Commander of Post 148 in Eatonville, Washington, serving a term. His favorite thing to do was riding his John Deere tractor in the 4th of July Parade in Eatonville, carrying a big sign advertising the BBQ sponsored by the American Legion for that day. In later days he was plagued by ailments that greatly limited his activity, but he enjoyed the things he was able to such as going to church and helping where he could, Sunday dinner with friends, serving in his community on the water board, attending American Legion meetings and watching the Mariners and the Seahawks games. He will be greatly missed by many. A memorial service is to be held at Tanwax Country Chapel in Eatonville, Washington, Friday, December 14, 2018 at 10:00am followed by an interment at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington, Friday, December 14, 2018 at 1:00pm. Arrangements by Powers Funeral Home.