Stephen Mark Checchia, Steve, as he preferred to be known--or Hoss to the immediate family--was a man who could do anything: fix cars, build ingenious sprinkler systems, tenderly guide his beloved roses into bloom each year, and manage pretty much every tech and mechanical repair needed for his family, both near and far. Starting as an air conditioning guru in the ‘70s, Steve moved on to passionately lead as the Facilities Service Manager at the El Paso Electric Company for twenty-seven years before retiring in 2011. He gave his heart to the job and the team as he encouraged each person to reach their highest potential.

Steve was the eldest of five siblings--Vincent (d.), Louise, Anne Marie, and Lewis--born on August 3, 1949, to Lewis Sr. (d.) and Antonette Checchia (d.). They all lived together, with a menagerie of animals, until the day Steve headed west for El Paso to start a life of his own. All of his siblings looked up to their big brother and will especially miss his humor.   

On September 26, 1984, Steve married the love of his life, Ann Devon, and a baby girl, Jenny, arrived on August 16, 1986. The family had many adventures: camping, traveling, and exploring the wild places of the Southwest Steve so loved.

After retirement, Steve joined the Woodworkers Association of El Paso, bought a camper, and became head-over-heels for Imperial Beach, California, and the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge, which he visited with his beloved Ann.

He was a loyal and devoted supporter of Ann's watercolor painting and never missed a moment to celebrate his daughter's accomplishments. When Jenny married David Skinner in August of 2020, though Steve couldn't be there in person because of COVID, he knew his precious daughter was in good hands as he loved his son-in-law like his own.

On the morning of October 28, 2020, Steve died unexpectedly in the home he shared with his wife of thirty-six years.

To say he will be missed is a gross understatement; Ann and Jenny are lost without their anchor but will find comfort and strength in the example Steve set and the love he worked so hard to make sure they felt.

A virtual Celebration of Life will be held on November 22, 2020, at 11 am Eastern Standard Time. Invitations will be provided; however, the whole event will be recorded and available for viewing here should anyone wish to watch it after the live stream.

In place of flowers, the family requests donations are made in his memory to the Friends of Bosque del Apache.

Please share photos and stories here, or on the Hillcrest Funeral Home website: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/el-paso-tx/stephen-checchia-9870977.

Ann and Jenny have been blown away by the community support and thank everyone for their kindness and caring during this difficult time.