Stephen Morse Lockwood

Steve was born in Portland, Oregon, on February 8, 1939, to William (Bill) Edwin and Helen Scott (Guild) Lockwood.

Young Steve enjoyed scouting, skiing, family camping trips and visits to the Oregon coast — all infused with his trademark smile, quick wit, clever ideas (some mischievous), and humor — which he later described as “sometimes unfortunate.” In 1956, Steve graduated from Lincoln High School in Portland. He briefly attended Reed College, leaving to marry Sally Louise Leech. They soon welcomed their son, Brent, and two years later, Dale.

Steve began his 30-year career “fixing phones” at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co. Servicing radio repeater stations on mountaintops was perhaps his favorite assignment. During a stint in human resources, he interviewed about 5,000 candidates for technical jobs. His career culminated as Operations Manager for Oregon, overseeing all AT&T operations for Oregon and managing major computer upgrades without disrupting customer service. In an era of managers dressing formally, Steve sported bow ties, khaki pants and white socks.

Steve’s noteworthy 1970s volunteer service, encouraged by Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone, was on two major committees that exemplified his interest in the relationship between land use and air quality: serving as the Cities of Clacka-mas County representative on the Columbia Region Area Govern-ment’s Citizen Advisory Committee that established the Portland region’s first Urban Growth Boundary, and chairing the Oregon DEQ Air Quality Advisory Committee that implemented the 1977 Clean Air Act amendments in Oregon.

In 1984, Steve married Molly O’Reilly, and upon retiring in 1987, they toured the continent in a VW van he remodeled for camping. Canoe atop, they wandered happily for nine months. Upon returning to Portland, Steve designed and built homes, starting with their own, then one for friends at the Oregon coast.

Steve next bought SV Halo, an ocean-worthy Cape George 31 sailboat. He and Molly sailed five months per year for four years starting behind Vancouver Island, then north to the Haida Gwaii Archipelago (Queen Charlotte Islands), to Hawaii and back, and north to Lituya Bay, Alaska. Emboldened, in 1995, Steve outfitted Halo for cruising and the couple headed for Ecuador and destinations in the South Pacific. They flew home annually to visit family, and in 1999 sailed back from Australia, settling in Sandpoint to be near family.

In Sandpoint, Steve continued sailing, hiking, camping and spending time with family and friends. He envisioned, designed, and constructed with his son Brent, an award-winning, small, sustainable apartment community, focused on energy efficiency and livability. Steve also served on the board of the Lake Pend Oreille School District (which educated four of his grandchildren: Ben, Jessica, Danielle and Laura), the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission, the Sandpoint City Council, the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Board and the boards of Idaho Smart Growth, the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society, and the Idaho Conservation League. In 2018, he ran for Bonner County commissioner, raising important concerns and ideas, despite an ultimately unsuccessful bid.

In a January 23, 202^0 tribute to Steve, the Sandpoint Reader wrote:

“Beyond all the offices he held and the volunteer hours he donated, Steve’s real gift to his fellow citizens was his example. Through his energy, breadth of knowledge and experience, keen analytical sense and — most important — his humor, Steve showed us all what it really means to be a contributor to society: not a critic nor a snide commentator, not a gadfly or a keyboard warrior, not a partisan ideologue nor a political grandstander.

Steve’s commitment to his adopted hometown was a living portrait of an engaged citizen; the kind of person so often alluded to as an ideal, but so infrequently met in real life. Always constructive, always collaborative and always challenging others to meet him on the high road ...”

On January 15, 2020, Steve died unexpectedly at his winter home in Tucson, Arizona. He had been suffering from Stage 4 Lymphoma, though he was adept at masking the severity of his medical conditions and symptoms. His glowing smile, quick sense of humor and fun, insights, and friendliness are sorely missed. Steve was self-educated and capable in many fields, growing throughout his life with self -reflection and humility.

Steve was predeceased by his son Brian, from his second marriage. He is survived by his widow, Molly; first wife, Sally Lockwood; sons Brent (Gretchen), Dale (Corinna), and Andrew (by second wife Rita); his sister, Susan (David) Swanson; a niece, Amy; a nephew, Scott (Lisa); and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family is planning a memorial for Steve in Sandpoint, the date to be announced in light of current social isolation. In lieu of flowers, family suggests remembrances to Idaho Conservation League, Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society or the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force.