Stephen Hembree

Stephen Wade Hembree, born May 4, 1953, was killed in a tragic boating accident on Lake Linganore on June 27, 2015.

Stephen leaves behind his wife, Katherine Claire Hagedorn Hembree, his 16 year old daughter, Karla Claire Hembree where they lived on Lake Linganore in New Market, Maryland. Stephen is survived by his mother, Virginia Sillman, his step-mother Cassandra Long, his brother K.C. Hembree and his wife Lois, his sisters, Jan D Hembree, PhD and her husband Jerry McDaniel, and Justina Marie Hembree Benoit and her husband, Henry Joseph Benoit, his step-brothers Drew Long and his wife Trish, and Neal Long. Nieces and nephews -- Danielle Claire Hembree Koehler and husband Jeffrey Koehler  Joshua Michael Hembree, Justin Hembree McDaniel, and Augustus H.W. Benoit, Kellie Denny and husband James and children Ashlee Noelle and Holly Diane, Alexandria Long, Savannah Rose Long, and Dylan Stanley Long, and Kristian Robert Hembree, Jaxen Koehler, and Tysen Koehler. Stephen is predeceased by his father, JD Hembree, and his sister, Carla Claire Hembree.

Before coming to Maryland, Stephen was a Florida Panhandle native who loved the water and sun. He was raised in Milton, Florida, the son of Marine Corp fighter pilot in WWII and Korea, the fourth of five children.

Stephen worked as a Project Consultant Manager and Engineer for the Lake Linganore Conservation Society dedicating his time to the storm water management project improving all of the roads for the residents of Lake Linganore. Prior to working the roads project, Stephen was involved with the Lake Linganore Homeowners Association where he held many positions including Project Development Specialist, Board of Director member (two terms), and General Manager, and was an involved and enthusiastic resident of the Eaglehead at Lake Linganore PUD. Stephen was a liason between these organizations and other local and state development regulation agencies, a position that he embraced because of his love of the area. He loved the idea of creating lakes and reshaping land to make it more beautiful and useful to people. He had vision for possibilities and an eye for creating beauty. He was mechanically gifted having begun his earliest days with a hammer in his hand. In his later life it became clear that Stephen had a gift for writing which we all enjoyed when reading his emails about events, especially those having to do with family and friends.

Stephen also had a vision about family connecting and staying together that spread through generations far and wide. He was the glue that held many family members together, always gathering clan members to laugh and play together, making sure everyone felt included and important.

Stephen's most endearing characteristic was his innate ability to laugh and enjoy life and his joy was infectious and inspiring. He was kind, gentle, calming and able to smooth over any rough moments of conflict between others. Everyone felt loved and special in Stephen's eyes, and for this he will be greatly missed.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 11AM, at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 131 W. 2nd St., Frederick, MD.

In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Lake Linganore Conservation Society (L.L.C.S.) c/o Stephen Hembree Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 92, New Market, MD 21774.