STEPHANIE LIKE CHILDERS

Stephanie Nelle (Like) Childers, died peacefully on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 11:25 a.m. at Southern Ohio Hospice Care, after a four-year battle with cancer. Stephanie was born May 29, 1945 in Portsmouth to the late Stephen E. and Doris Shumway Like whom proceeded her in death.

Stephanie is survived by her husband of 26 years, Stephen W. Childers of Portsmouth; her son, Stephen Hayburn of Ketchikan, Alaska; one grandchild, Zachary Hayburn of Granville Ohio; and a brother, George and Deborah G. Loff-Like of Arlington, Virginia.

Stephanie was a dedicated educator to children with disabilities. After graduating at Minford High School, she went to Rio Grande University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education. She attended graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati, University of Dayton, and Ohio University for special education and finished her master's degree at Xavier University. Throughout her teaching career, she furthered her education by attending several post graduate studies at several universities.

Stephanie started positively influencing children in 1967 at Cedar Cliff Schools in Cedarville Ohio. In 1968, she became a teacher at Kettering City Schools in Kettering Ohio, where she taught first grade gifted children. In 1970, she returned to the Portsmouth area and taught cognitive disabilities at Wheelersburg Elementary School until 1976, when she became the low-incidence coordinator/supervisor and consultant at PILASCO – ROSS SERRC, until she retired in 2007. After retirement, she became the special education consultant with State Support Team Region 15 for eight years.

Stephanie was part of several memberships, boards and associations, including the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, International Reading Association, Southern Ohio Mental Health Association, Council for Exceptional Children, Alpha Delta Kappa – National Honorary for Women Educators, Who's Who American Colleges and Universities, she was a board member of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Adams, Lawrence and Scioto Counties, Southern Ohio Task Force on Domestic Violence, University of Rio Grande Alumni Association, and a board member of the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Throughout her career she penned numerous grants and presentations, which are still used in the Ohio education system. Stephanie was awarded the "Amy Allen Award" for "Outstanding Teaching Excellence", the Wheelersburg PTO "Distinguished Citizen Award", Listed in Who's Who of Women Educators, Post member of the Ohio Superintendents Advisory Council on Vocational Handicapped and while at PILASCO – ROSS, the Low – Incidence Cooperative Programs were awarded the "American Council on Rural Special Education" and "National Exemplary Program Award" for Cooperation and Collaboration. In 2014, Stephanie was awarded the "Friend of Children Award" by Shawnee State University.

Stephanie participated in the TOSRV (Tour of the Scioto River Valley) bicycle ride for numerous years with her husband, Steve, following her every mile and she occasionally made the ride with her brother, George, and her grandson, Zac. She loved her dog (Rip), her family, co-workers, flowers, trees, traveling and vacationing at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. She loved to read and was extremely active in Zac's life. She wrote and mailed letters every week to Zac and would always write on the back of the envelopes "even if I had had a million grandchildren, you would still be my favorite." She always texted him with a "thought for the day" each morning before he went to school. Stephanie absolutely loved church, associated activities, and was a devout Christian. She personally and professionally inspired so many people from all different walks of life. Stephanie was unselfish and constantly thinking about the other person. Her humor and smile always filled the room with happiness and joy. During the last four years, Stephanie battled cancer and fought it courageously. She absolutely refused to give up, continued to work every day and take care of her home while fighting this disease. We, as a family, would like to take this time to thank Dr. Inoshita and his remarkable staff for caring for her during the last four years. We could have not asked for a better doctor and staff, who are all so compassionate and caring to take care of mom, wife, sister, grand, friend and co-worker. We would also like to thank Dr. Patel and the staff at SOMC Hospice who helped and cared for her. There is not enough space or paper to write on to give Stephanie the true honor that is so greatly deserved. Her legacy will be the memories you carry and share with others. My mother will be missed but never forgotten.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at the Swick-Bussa-Chamberlin Funeral Home in Wheelersburg, with Rase Martin officiating. Interment will be at Friendship Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. In leiu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Kings Daughters Health Foundation, C/O Dr. Inoshita's Office, 916 11th Street, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662. In Memory of Stephanie Childers. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.swickbussachamberlin.com