SALISBURY — Stephen Sidney Oliver, 71, died Dec. 9, 2022. He was born Sept. 14, 1951.

Steve’s son said, “My father was the best man I ever knew. He sacrificed a lot to make sure he could provide for his family. He was my safety net. He was my voice of reason. He was always there to make sure I had what I needed in my life.”

This was Steve! He was a rock, a true gentleman. Steve and Cathy met on a blind date New Year’s Eve, 1989, and were soulmates ever since. I was so lucky to have him in my life.

Steve was the son of Sidney and Lela (Laroque) Oliver; loving husband to Cathy; brother to Nancy Denison of Westford, Vt., and Patty Denison also of Westford, Vt.; father to Daniel Oliver of Bristol Vt., Lisa Perkins of Monkton, Vt., Michele Robie of Rutland, Vt,. Mellisa Charron of West Haven, Vt., and Marlana Pickel of East Montpelier, Vt. Steve had seven grandchildren.

He graduated from Essex High School in 1969. Steve loved going to his cousin’s (Berthiaume’s) farm in West Salisbury, Vt. He would spend every chance he got to be at the farm. He had a blast there, and that is where he met his second cousin, David Vallencourt, who was also a cousin to the Berthiaumes. Steve and David were best friends their whole life.

Steve met his first wife, Rachel Guptil, and they were married for 10 years and had two children. He worked at the UVM Research center in Weybridge, Vt. When Kraft came to Middlebury, he was lucky to get a job there from 1975 until 1995. Then he worked for Agri-Mark/Cabot until he retired in 2018. He enjoyed woodworking, music, horseback riding, softball and doing firewood. He built our home. In 2019, Steve was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer; J A K – 2. On Dec. 9, he lost the battle to it.

A special thank you to Dr. Linn Larson and her nurse Michelle, Dr. Paul Unger and his nurse Susie, and Hospice of Addison County Nurse Stephanie.

Steve was buried at the West Salisbury Cemetery on Dec. 10.

Arrangements were under the direction of Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon.◊