Stephen Herman Nedeau, 84, of Cabot, passed away Friday, January 6, 2023. He was born Tuesday, August 30, 1938 in Woodland, Maine to the late Herman Henry and Eldora Myrtle Curran Nedeau. Stephen was a retired truck driver.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Nedeau, and a son, Michael Wayne Nedeau.

Stephen is survived by his three daughters, Valerie Jean (David) Shunk of Knightdale, North Carolina, Sharon Marie (Stephen) Pickens of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Suzanne Mae (Tony) Kline of Ward, Arkansas; his siblings, Shirley Shorey, Marilyn Wilcox, Carolyn Holmes; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

He grew up in northern Maine working the potato harvest during the fall. He usually drove the farmer's potato truck up and down the highways which kept the potato pickers supplied with barrels. This allowed the farmer to continue to dig potatoes without interruption allowing a better harvest.

He graduated from Caribou High School in 1956 and was employed as a shift supervisor at American Kitchen Foods and Birdseye. While employed at Birdseye he went on to become the Union President under the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

He later attended Andover Tractor Trailer School, earning his CDL. He became a trucker for Merrill Transport and later Shaw's Grocery Chain. Stephen proved to be a very safe truck driver and took pride in his job. He was awarded the Million Mile Safety Award, which was presented to him by the American Trucking Association for Outstanding Performance as a Professional Driver in 2001. Stephen also completed the Trucker's Defensive Driving and resulted in him assisting with coaching the class.

In the 1970s he had a passion for Citizens Band (CB) radio. He met people and founded a CB club. He spent many hours, often late at night, chatting on the CB channels. He spoke to people locally and around the world without the use of a cell phone. This was a family event as each member of his family had a CB handle (name) they went by. His handle was "Snowbird" and Frances' was "Ladybird."

In addition to the Citizens Band radio club, Stephen liked to hunt and people who knew him knew he was proud of a Maine black bear he shot in the fall of 1966. After shooting the bear he mounted the bear across the front of his old station wagon. The head of the bear still hangs in his bedroom.  In addition to his bear hunting skills, he attained membership in the Biggest Bucks of Maine Club and has the patch to prove it.

He loved sports and you could count on him always watching Boston Red Sox when the season was broadcast on the television.  His weekly routine included getting his paper, taking the television section out, circling the Red Sox baseball games, This ensured he had his baseball schedule for the whole week all planned out.

Something he didn't plan on doing, when he was younger, was when he played baseball for the Birdseye Recreational team and sliding into second his right leg stopped but he kept going and he tore his leg up good enough to get out of work for several days.

When he retired, he moved from Maine to Cabot, AR in 2009 to be around his extended family. He and his wife finally had the time to spend with his grown children and grandchildren.  He was now closer to Sharon and Steve and Sue and Tony.

High School graduations were attended and pool parties were had. Many hours were spent waiting in the carpool line to pick up a grandchild and there wasn't a complaint. Soccer games were attended and they learned to bring their own seat, sunscreen and hat. When obligations weren't overbearing and other adults had time, Stephen and Frances would often go up to Steve and Sharon's lake house. His retirement years were spent with family watching soccer games, enjoying boat rides on the lake, and making many family memories. Many of those memories were also made around a table playing a card game of Canasta and also Dominoes. There however, was never any competition!!!

During his time in Arkansas one of his greatest life changing experiences came from caring for his wife, Frances, who died last February from an extended battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was changed from one being waited on to one doing the serving! The individuals who surrounded him with love, support, encouragement, caring and kindness through the trials were also those who let him see the Christ-like life in a whole new way! Through these encounters, he only recently in the past year could say that he too is looking forward to making heaven his eternal home! Thanks to all who prayed and poured into his life! We celebrate his life today!

Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. (CST), Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Moore's Cabot Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. (CST) with interment to follow at Mount Carmel Cemetery. Moore's Cabot Funeral Home is at 700 N. Second Street, Cabot, Arkansas 72023. 501-843-5816