Stephen Craig Poynter

Stephen Craig Poynter, 66, of Edgewood passed away August 7, 2020, in Tyler, Texas. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Stephen was born in Dallas, Texas on December 14, 1953 to Bobby Charles and Josephine Thomas Poynter. A graduate of Houston’s Robert E. Lee High School, Stephen answered his country’s call to serve in 1972 when he joined the United States Air Force. During his first overseas tour, Stephen was stationed at Torrejon Air Base in Madrid, Spain where he met the love of his life, Donna, at a rodeo in Rota. They married in 1975. Two years later, they welcomed their first son, Charles. In 1982, Stephen and Donna welcomed their only daughter, Katrina, and a year later, celebrated the arrival of their youngest son, Christopher.

Over the course of his military career, Stephen and his family had the opportunity to live all over the world. While stationed in Europe, Stephen coached the Dutch National football team, The Centurions, as well as the Air Force intermural softball team. After 21 years of honorable service, Stephen continued his education, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Education from Texas A&M at Commerce.

In 1999, Stephen answered his second calling when he became a Special Education teacher at Scurry-Rosser. He would later go on to coach both baseball and football at Quinlan High School, before ultimately becoming a Terrell Tiger, where he taught a wide range of subjects over more than a decade.

Stephen was an accomplished fisherman, with several Bass Pro tournaments and titles under his belt. He will be remembered as a devoted son, husband and father with a passion for life and the great outdoors.

He is preceded in death by his nephew, Austin “Buzzer” Dixon, Uncle Donald Poynter, favorite Aunt Ethel Liles, Mother-in-Law Dolly Greebon, and Grandparents Charlie and Jurine Poynter.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Donna Poynter of Edgewood; sons, Charles Poynter and fiancé Kim of The Woodlands, Christopher Poynter and wife Jennifer of Edgewood and Dustin Shane Poynter of Liverpool; daughter, Katrina Arthurs and husband Duke of Garden City, Missouri; parents Bobby and Jo Poynter of Edgewood; sister, Leslie Dixon and husband Don of Edgewood; grandchildren, Dylan, Amber, Keira, Logan, Ethan, Geneva, Josey, Chloe, Abigail, Kyle, Rhiana and another one on the way; four great grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

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