On Steven's Death

We would love to have answers.

Steven felt sick at work on Friday and told Paul he needs to rest for a few hours. [He worked at our grass seed warehouse.]

He went to a friend’s house and rested there but didn’t feel like coming back to work.

Paul talked to him Saturday morning about coming to an employee breakfast, but he wasn’t feeling up to it.

I talked to him Saturday evening and he was very sick with a fever and vomiting, still at his friend’s house. I thought he sounded congested as well. I encouraged him to see a doctor but he didn’t want to. He said he’s drinking tea with honey and staying hydrated.

I figured between his medical training and his friend’s good sense, he would know when to go to urgent care.

Sunday morning he got up and felt weak.

Going back to his room, he collapsed and did not recover despite the hard work of paramedics.

To me, his symptoms sounded like pneumonia or meningitis. However, an autopsy was done but did not discover a conclusive cause of death.

Tentative plans for services:

Visitation on Thursday at Murphy-Musgrove in Junction City.

CORRECTION--no viewing at Murphy Musgrove as their venue has moved and is too small. More info later.

Funeral service on Friday morning at 11:00 at Fairview Mennonite Church, Albany, Oregon.

The service will be livestreamed.

Private burial.

More details later.

Our address:
Paul and Dorcas Smucker
31148 Substation Drive
Harrisburg, OR 97446