October 26, 1959 – November 2, 2022
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022, Stephen Stroud, loving husband and father, entered the gates of heaven at the age of 63 after a six-year battle with cancer.
Stephen was born on October 26, 1959, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to Terry Monroe Stroud Jr. and Camille Lane Stroud. He was preceded in death by both his mother and father. He is survived by his cherished wife and love of his life, Lori Stroud (Lola); his four children, Kathryn Burgher, Elizabeth Moore, Samantha Azar, and Victoria Stroud; his sister Terrylyn Tapp, and four precious grandchildren.
Upon Stephen’s graduation from Natchitoches Central High School, he received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Northwestern State University in 1981. His love of and appreciation for his alma mater led to a lifelong dedication to NSU. Always a sports fan, he became an avid supporter of demon basketball under the skilled leadership of Coach Mike McConathy.
After graduation, Stephen began a thriving career in the Natural Gas Liquids business. In his mid-twenties, Stephen started Phoenix Gas Liquids. After successfully running his business for many years, he sold it to Enbridge Energy in 2002 where he continued to work as a Natural Gas Liquids Trader/Marketer until 2012. For the last 10 years, Stephen has been employed by Martin Resource Management as Vice President of NGL Supply.
He genuinely loved his career and continued working until his final days. He was one of the few people who could balance both work and fun. His witty repartee and expertise at storytelling made him a beloved boss and co-worker. One of his friends in the business, who knew him for thirty years, said it best: “Stephen was an expert in his industry and greatly impacted everyone around him. He was a godly man who was concerned about the eternal souls of his friends and co-workers.”
Since boyhood, Stephen had a great love for the Houston Astros and the Dallas Cowboys. When not cheering on his favorite teams, he could be found walking on the beach or befriending strangers and sharing his faith in Jesus Christ with them. Despite his challenges, Stephen was a stranger to no one and found great purpose sharing in the successes, joys, and challenges of those around him. He will be enormously missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.
A Memorial Service for Stephen will take place at the Rosemary Beach Town Hall on Tuesday, November 29th at 10:30am. The service will be casual and appropriate sports team attire is welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Joe’s House in the name of Stephen Stroud.
Joe’s House is a 501(c)3 nonprofit company providing housing for cancer patients and their families while undergoing treatment away from home. You can donate at joeshouse.org or by check to 505 East 79th Street, Suite 17E, New York, NY 10075.
