Stephen Anderson Atnip, age 70, of Houston, Texas passed away on December 25, 2024. He was born to Logan and Virginia Atnip in Paul's Valley Oklahoma on November 11, 1954. He is survived by his wife of 47 years Nancy Ramsey Atnip, their son Dr. Jason Atnip and his wife Kara Poe Atnip. In addition, Stephen is survived by his brothers David and Clifton Atnip and sister Brigitte Ritchey, sister-in-law Char Atnip and brother-in-law Jeffrey Ritchey. He also leaves four nieces and one nephew.
Stephen grew up in Bulawayo Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where his parents were missionaries. Stephen was a good student and leader even becoming Head Boy at Henry Low Junior School. An athletic boy, he played many sports including rugby, soccer, baseball, tennis, cricket, and swimming. He participated in Boy's Brigade, where he earned his Queen's Badge, the equivalent of the American Boy Scout's Eagle Scout award.
He attended Baylor University where he was a member of Baylor Chamber of Commerce and played on the first Baylor University soccer team. Stephen and Nancy met at Baylor, and after graduating, they moved to Houston where they married and began their life together. They have been members of South Main Baptist Church in Houston since 1976 and early on served as volunteers in the nursery.
When Jason came along, Steve began the adventure of fatherhood, embracing it fully. An athlete himself he was active in all of Jason's sports activities, coaching little league teams of all sorts and even keeping score in the dugout in high school. While not a musician himself, Steve became a devoted band parent working tirelessly so that the Westfield High School Band could go to Indianapolis and become Bands of America National Champions in 2004.  During this time, he developed enduring friendships. Nothing made him prouder than when Jason introduced Kara to the family; it was love at first sight. He celebrated her accomplishments right along with Jason's and he felt great pride going to Chicago to see the opening night of her play, even helping to fold programs. He was probably more nervous than Jason when he presented his dissertation and beamed with pride when his doctorate was conferred upon him.
Stephen was a diligent worker who provided an amazing life for his family. He began his career in computer technology at Deluxe Check Printers and worked for several other companies in Houston finally settling at Shell Oil Information and Technologies as a program manager. He traveled extensively in his work and made friends around the world.
He was a man of great faith, which he shared openly and by example. It was never more obvious than the last two years during his valiant battle with cancer.
The family would like to thank the lymphoma clinic of MD Anderson, Millennium Physicians oncology group, Signature Healthcare devoted and loving wound care nurses, and Ascend Hospice Care, the countless prayer groups across the country that prayed for his recovery, and all the friends and family who supported him through this long struggle.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or the Lymphoma research organization of their choice in the memory of Stephen Atnip.