Rickey Steve Farris, born October 4, 1971, in Post, Texas, passed away on May 12, 2026, leaving behind a life riddled by complexity, hardship, quiet battles, resilience, redemption and a depth of humanity that often went unseen. His journey was not simple, and the roads he walked were often steep, lonely, and unforgiving and it was not easy, but they were His, and He walked down them with a strength that was not only raw and unbelievable, it was real — and it deserves to be honored with truth and compassion and unashamed proclamation.

Steve is survived by his father Rickey Steve Farris Sr., and his mom Brenda Sweeten, who preceded him in death. He is also survived by his brother, Scott Farris, who carries the memory of his brother, whose life held both light and shadows.

Steve spent many years away from his family — years shaped by circumstances that created distance and time apart. These years do not define him, but they are simply a page of the story he wrote, and part of the truth we acknowledge with honesty, grace, and Forgiveness.

He faced struggles that he often carried alone, the kind of pain that hides behind a smile and a laugh. In the end, it became too hard to hide, and he ended up dying by his own hand. His passing is not a reflection of weakness, but of the depth of the battle he fought within himself.

We speak this truth not to judge him, but to honor the painful reality of what he endured.

Though adoption kept our lives on separate paths, and we never met in person, Steve and I reconnected when I turned 18. For eleven years, our connection built upon a foundation of words and moments carried across distance. A quiet bond held together by phone lines and time - a fragile bridge built with one heart.

Rickey leaves behind five children, each carrying a different part of his story:

• Jake Youngblood (Robert E. Lee), 29
• N.P.B., 31
• Cheyenna Marie Beeson, 29
• Jayce Harvey, 27
• Joanna Harvey, 21

We carry his memory with honesty — not as a perfect man, but as a human one. A man who struggled. A man whose life mattered. A man who was loved beyond measure. A man that loved without end Amen.

"His story does not end with the pain he carried. It continues through his children who speak his name, in the truth we choose to tell, and in the hope that healing can begin where silence once proclaimed total victory.