Steven Eugene Nourse
April 9th 1948 ~ December 29th 2006

~ The Second Smartest Man I Ever Knew ~

These photos were provided by Steve's wife, Sue.

These photos were provided by Steve's mother, Betty.

These photos were provided by Steve's brother, Bill.

Poem provided by Steve's son, Ronnie.

To add your page to this website, send photos or text to brnourse@yahoo.com

In Honor of My Brother My brother was a very unique individual. He had common sense and intelligence. If he didn’t know how something worked, he learned how it worked, and he never forgot it. My brother and I were different form the very beginning. I liked to work on computers, he liked working on cars. I liked the History channel, he liked to watch John Wayne movies. He was a “people person”, I kept to myself. There were many ways that my brother and I differed, but surprisingly there were ways that we were similar. On my last visit with my brother before he died, my wife put on my moccasins to go outside, I griped about it and my brother said, “you can put on mine”. And there by the back door sat a pair of moccasins. Until that time, I didn't know that he liked wearing moccasins! When something would go wrong with my truck, I would call Steve. And when something would go wrong with his computer, he would call me. I enjoyed helping him with his computer, and I think he enjoyed helping me with my vehicles. I’m going to miss that. The Best In Houston For years Steve had a VW Engine Rebuild Shop in LaPorte, Texas. His business grew and it started turning a pretty good profit. He called me one day and told me that he was faced with a decision. He could continue to work for Maxwell House or work in his shop full time. He asked me for my advice. I knew this was a big thing for my brother because he never asked me for my advice. I told him that he should quit Maxwell House and work full time in his shop. He choose to shut down the shop and continue to work for Maxwell House. In 1996 I got a wild hair to go to Belize Central America. To get there you take a plane out of Houston. I went to Houston and stayed in Steve's shop for a while before leaving for Belize. While I was there, the phone would ring. The person would ask if they could schedule their VW for repairs. I would tell them that Steve was no longer in business. Then they would say "He's not in business?" Then they would tell me that someone at some auto parts store told them that Steve was the best in Houston! I answered several calls like that while I was there. And Steve had been closed for a while at that time. That speaks volumes about his knowledge and abilities.

Steve Saved My Life I owe my life to Steve. When I was 12 and Steve was 14, Mama told us to take out the trash. In 1962 we burnt the trash, everybody did back then. We took out the trash and set it on fire. Then a page out of the Sunday comic section fell out and landed right next to the trash barrel. I squatted down and started reading the comics. Then a burning clump of paper fell out of the trash and landed on my back. It caught my shirt on fire. I panicked and started running. Steve ran after me. He grabbed me and pushed me down to the ground and rolled me around until the fire was out. I suffered second-degree burns on my back but I was alive. Thank you for saving my life big brother. The Bass Player While growing up I had several rock and roll bands. At the start they were just neighborhood kids and we played in garages on the weekends. After playing around for a while I started a band called the 4 Dimensions. Steve played Bass guitar in that band, I played lead guitar. This was the best band I ever had at that time. We were pretty good. We played at recreation centers all around Tulsa. And in several small towns around Tulsa. It was the only band where my brother and I played together.

The Transaxle When Steve was married to Glenda and living in Pasadena, Texas he rebuilt an automatic transmission for me. To me, this was no simple feat. The transmission was out of a 1962 Pontiac Tempest. This vehicle was rather strange. It had a slant four cylinder engine, a flexible drive shaft, and the transmission was in the rear end. Steve called it a transaxle. Steve had a big roll of brown postal paper in his garage. He spread out two strips of it on the floor. Then he started taking the transmission apart. He placed each piece of the transmission on the paper in a line. When he was finished there were three lines of parts on the paper. He then replaced the old clutches and plates with new ones on the paper and began putting the transmission back together again. When he was done I had a rebuilt transmission. I told him how impressed I was at what I had just witnessed. He said, “Anyone can do that”. I think he was overestimating people and underestimating himself. Chantel's College Days When my step daughter Chantel came to Houston to go to college, I asked Steve to help her because she did not know anyone in Houston except Steve. My brother didn't bat an eye. He took control like he always did. Whatever Chantel needed, Steve was there to help her. He even picked her up one day and took her to the Maxwell House plant. He gave her the "grand tour" and introduced her to everyone. Chantel depended on Steve during that time and he came through for her in every way. Steve was always going out of his way to help people. Thanks Steve.

Me and my brother Steve

Bill E. Nourse
"The man who made my brother the man he was".

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