In Remembrance of Steve McDaniel

1951 - 2018

Mom said, "Sharon loves her big brother so much she cries for him instead of me. They are close in age and she wants her Stevie. She follows him everywhere. In adult life when trouble came or heartaches, she wanted Steve".

I could not follow you to Viet Nam. I cannot follow you now. Although at times I want to. Your son and grandchild need help. I will pick up your missions of P.O.W. and M.I.A. And help honor you. I wish you would of stayed.

I love you Stevie.

Sharon, your loving sis.

10 thoughts on “Steve McDaniel”

Sharon says:

December 21, 2018 at 10:48 pm

I love you Steve. Christmas without you is just not Christmas. You always had trains running around your tree. I wish this was a bad dream. And I would wake up. I love you and find it difficult to believe you are gone. I pray you are at peace. Love you! Your sister Sharon.

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Sharon says:

April 2, 2019 at 9:26 am

Steve, it is Spring. The snows come here in the mountains and melt. The rebirth of all things starts its cycle. You not only served in Nam. You loved and were involved with trains your whole life. When I hear the freight train’s whistle blow I say, “Hi Steve.” But now Spring is coming to the mountains and you were such an amazing Horticulturist and Historian Horticulturist. You replaced gardens that once bloomed beautiful clear back to Lincoln’s time. I would ask you about mine and you would say, “You do just beautifully without my help.” I thought: “How can that be?” You are the expert on this. I cannot do it, Steve. I know it is almost time to cut the rose garden back. I don’t want to. All I see are thorns. Remember how we saw beauty in all? I don’t now. Because we were so close in age, we were as close to twins as possible without actually being twins. You decided to leave in Sept.at 66 yrs. Too young Steve. However, there is no age for suicide or loss. I am 65. I lost my brother, my friend and someone I greatly looked up to. I don’t want my flower beds. I want them to wither and die. I only see thorns. We liked the earth, the soil, the getting our hands in and creating something. It was like art being created in the soil. A huge part of me died when you did. If I was not sure on how to prune a tree or bush. I could ask you. I don’t understand why you had to go. You were loved by so many. I cannot see the rebirth of nature this Spring. The color that would be I don’t care about. I love you big brother. I hope and pray you are at peace. I go to the canyon onto the reservation part. I look for you, but cannot find you. Maybe someday. No beauty there either. I hope you are soaring Steve, as high as the Eagle. I tried and I cannot. My spirit is broken. Yours had to of been incredibly broke for you to go. I want you back. Love you, Sharon

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Sharon Bond-Anderson says:

July 3, 2019 at 2:45 pm

Steve, I miss you so much. We all do. I wish when I needed your help I would have called you. I think you might still be here. I will get trains added to your post soon and you flying in that plane so happy. I look at it and feel better, and say, “Fly High My Brother, Fly High.” I hear the trains blow their whistle in the morning passing through town, and I say, “Good Morning Steve.” It is July 3rd, 2019. I have another sad part of life July 8th. However, I know my Big Brother will be there in Spirit with me. You served your country well. You took good care of your family. I make sure my flag flies for you and my late husband Roger. And all who served and do. I love you and miss you with a pain, that only other survivors of this can feel. Love you Steve. Your little sis, Sharon

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1. Sharon Bond-Anderson says:
  
  July 30, 2019 at 6:07 pm
  
  Steve, it has not been a year since you left this chosen way. I miss you so much. Often don’t believe your gone forever. No one where I live knew you. So there is no one to talk to you about. In CO people met you. Here in WY, I was new and you had not been here yet. I wish you could come back. I know you can’t. I love you. Your little sis.
  
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Jess says:

October 4, 2019 at 5:04 am

Sharon, my brother Jason passed in 2008, just before Christmas. I wrote on his memorial page for years… a lone voice aching for his familiar laugh. I somehow stumbled on Steve’s page and instantly felt that loss – You are not alone. There are so many of us that the weight of our loss should sink entire universes into darkness, but together we can breathe again. You will never get over it, but you can and will get through it; just know that. I am so sorry for your loss. I truly understand a sister writing a note and sending it into the universe, just needing that connection. Breathe. One day at a time. A lifetime does indeed feel incredibly long to be without them – too long. Impossible. But, it does ease over time, and after a point, you can start feeling peace again. Honor your brother in whatever way you need. Know you are not alone. Keep looking forward. I wish you all the peace I can possibly give.

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1. Shar Anderson says:
  
  November 2, 2019 at 3:58 pm
  
  Jess, thank you. Yes, I miss my brother Steve terribly. Thank you for your kind words, support. I appreciate it. I have never spoken with another that endured a suicide loss. However going through the pictures there are so many. Too many in fact. I write to him. I guess it helps me communicate with him. I tried to figure out how to upload other photos of him, but couldn’t. You are very kind. Thank you. Sharon (Shar) Anderson
  
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2. Shar Anderson says:
  
  November 2, 2019 at 4:13 pm
  
  Jess, I apologize. I am sorry for the loss of your brother. I had a death in my family with funeral tomorrow. I just blanked that part out. You will be in my thoughts as well, concerning the healing process for your brother. Please take care, Shar
  
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Shar Bond-Anderson says:

November 2, 2019 at 4:11 pm

Steve, thinking of you today. November 2, 2019. Cousin Terry is with you now. He passed away Oct 31. I am sure you are all having a lot of fun. I think of all the fun we had down south with the family as kids. I miss you. Tomorrow is Terry’s funeral. On the anniversary of your death I made and sent a wreath down the Wind River Canyon for you. Even had a train on it. It was a good thing to recognize you that day. I don’t know if I will ever heal completely from losing you. Some days are better than others. I know you are about and that helps. I know you will be about tomorrow at Terry’s funeral, as you guys loved each other and had a lot of ornery fun. Love you my big brother. Sharon 😥

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1. Sharon says:
  
  May 25, 2020 at 6:18 am
  
  I love you Steve was miss you so. Today is the anniversary of mom’s death, my late husband’s funeral as well. He was a Veteran. So I think of you both today. My flag will fly as usual for you both an all our Veterans. I don’t understand why you had to go, yet. Maybe someday but my heart misses you so much. I love you!!!! I pray you are at peace. You deserved peace. Love you, you’re sis
  
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Shar Bond-Anderson says:

February 7, 2021 at 10:21 am

Steve, not hardly a hour goes by that I don’t think of you, or cry with a heart so broken. I also when hearing of a suicide in the community have a heart so broken for that family because I know what they are going through. Doesn’t make it better to of lost you this way. I just know their pain. I don’t feel like it gets easier. I feel like it gets harder. I miss you my brother. I love you. I will always miss and love you, you’re little sis. Sharon💔

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