Paul Harry Stevens

Paul Harry Stevens

Dec. 10, 1957, to July 4, 2024

Paul Harry Stevens, 66, of Cheney, a loving husband, dad and Papouli, passed away unexpectedly July 4, 2024, at home with his wife, Diane, by his side. 

Paul was born to Angelica and Emil Stevens on Dec. 10, 1957, in Spokane, Wash. He attended Shadle Park High School, where he developed great friendships with his wrestling buddies and graduated in 1976.

More life-long friendships sprouted during this time in his life as he worked as a restaurant manager. He attended community college for two years. Then, after “taking a year off to be an idiot,” Paul resumed his education at Washington State University, graduating with a degree in clinical psychology.

He moved to Cheney in 1982 to be a hall director at Eastern Washington University, where he met Diane. The two were married in 1985 and had four children together.

In 1996, he miraculously survived a massive ruptured brain aneurysm, which resulted in three brain surgeries. He beat all odds to continue to live well and recover for nearly 30 years. He always said, “It is only by the hand of God that I am alive today.”

No longer managing his family’s production machine shop, Paul’s life became devoted to fatherhood, gardening and spreading his love through cooking and conversation. He never met a stranger, embodied perfectly by his proclivity for matchmaking and his “when you’re 66, you could look this good!” story.

He was ever-recognizable in appearance, complete with his bushy white beard, red suspenders and a big smile. His evenings were often spent on his deck at home, keeping score at the cribbage table, watching birds at his feeders and listening to the band, The Grateful Dead, with his wife, children, grandchildren and pets around him.

He was well-loved and truly legendary, expanding the role of Papouli with grand pirate tales and making appearances as Santa, both for his treasured grandchildren and the community alike. 

He was ever proud of his Greek heritage and traditions. In the last weeks of his life, Paul fulfilled his lifetime dream of visiting Greece with his wife, Diane; and son, Robby and his girlfriend Claire. It was the most wonderful trip we could have ever taken together.

As a shocker to no one, he met and positively impacted many, even complete strangers abroad, who will miss him almost as much as we do. 

He will be remembered always for his generosity, love of life and his enduring faith in the Lord. To know Paul was to love him.  

Paul was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Diane Stevens; and brothers, Mark and Phillip Stevens; four children, Meaghan (Mark) Flowers, Hannah (Andrew) LaBolle and Rebecca (Eli) Petropoulos, all of Cheney, and Robert of Nashville, Tenn.; and 13 beloved grandchildren. Although his absence leaves a vast hole in our lives, his great love and our fond memories keep him alive in our hearts forever.

A memorial service will be at 1:30 p.m. July 20, 2024, at Cheney Faith Center in Cheney, Wash.