Services will be live-streamed on the Traditions Facebook Page.
Stephen Anthony Shibley was born on August 11, 1950, and passed with his family by his side on January 29, 2022, at the age of 71. Steve was the second youngest of the five children born to parents Louise Mae (Davis) Shibley and K.K. Shibley in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Sapulpa would continue to be a special place for the Shibley family throughout Steve’s career and life.
While attending Sapulpa High school, Steve was an incredibly talented athlete and excelled at wrestling and baseball. Steve would amaze everyone with his ability to attend school, and go to wrestling, football and baseball practice, while also working for his parents’ restaurant, The Townhouse Grill. This restaurant was a local treasure, providing a place for friendship and fellowship for many Sapulpans. Before graduating from Sapulpa High School, Steve met the love of his life, Mary Alice Brown.
He and Mary fell in love, got married in 1967 and welcomed first son, Stephen Anthony Shibley II, in 1968. Steve went on to graduate from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and began his illustrious coaching career in 1972 in Broken Arrow. It took only two years before Sapulpa High called him home to become a head wrestling coach at only 24 years old. During those years, Steve coached numerous outstanding teams and several state champions, including his son, Stephen Shibley II. He was honored with many awards and was also selected as the East All-State coach. Steve had a brief stint in Sand Springs, but quickly returned to become the Athletic Director for Sapulpa until his retirement.
Steve and Mary also welcomed son, Seth Alan Shibley, in 1977, and son, Adam Christopher Shibley, in 1980. All three boys grew up with a love for baseball, just like their father. They loved to watch New York Yankees games together, and Steve provided a plethora of knowledge for the boys who all excelled at baseball at Sapulpa High School, and all went on to play in college.
Stephen, Seth, and Adam gifted Steve and Mary with 10 wonderful grandchildren. The grandkids were the light of Steve’s life, and he had a unique and special relationship with each of them. He has instilled in all of them that God, love, family, and wiffle ball should always be your priorities.
He is survived by wife Mary Shibley; sons Stephen Shibley II, Seth Shibley and wife, Sarah; Adam Shibley and wife, Ashley; and grandchildren Stephen III, Sidney, Alan, Kelsi, Peter, Isaac, Samuel, Adelyn, Adam II (Ace) and Mary Lou. He is also survived by brother Mike and wife Susan, brother Fred, sisters-in-law Nina Shibley and Janis Mann, cousins Judy Kragel and Beki Steeples, and aunts Georgette Popeney, and Theresa Shibley. He is also survived by the Class of 1968 and by his many wrestlers and students that he touched over the years.
He is preceded in death by parents K. and Louise Shibley, sister Susan Shibley and brother K. Shibley Jr.
The family would like to personally thank nurses Kristin Pittman and Lexi Heavener of Kindful Hospice. They would also like to thank the loving caregivers at the Porta Caeli House. Steve’s family would like to express the utmost gratitude for the community of Sapulpa for the outpouring of support and affection during Steve’s illness.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at the Chieftain Center on the campus of Sapulpa High School. If you wish to make a donation in Steve’s name, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either Sapulpa High School Athletic Department (3. S. Mission, Sapulpa, OK 74066), or to Porta Caeli House (2440 N. Harvard Ave. Tulsa, OK 74115).
