Steven Perry Dirickson, devoted husband, father, “Grumps”, brother, son, veteran, nephew, uncle and friend passed peacefully at home after a short but hard fought battle with cancer on May 9, 2025 at the age of 64.
Steve was born on November 26th,1960 in Bartlesville, OK to Jim and Reva Dirickson, and was raised in Collinsville, OK. As the middle child and only son, Steve naturally took on the role of a loyal protector to his two sisters, Vanessa and Janna—though he never missed a chance to tease them or challenge them in competition. “The Three Musketeers” as they called themselves shared an unbreakable bond and remained close throughout their lives. Steve loved sports and enjoyed playing football, baseball, and wrestling for the Collinsville Cardinals in high school. Steve was an exceptional artist and enjoyed working with his hands from a young age.
After graduating from Collinsville High School in 1979, Steve enlisted in the Marine Corps and served his country faithfully for four years. Semper Fi was not just a motto for Steve while serving in the Marines, but a core value that would shape the rest of his life. Always faithful, always loyal, an unwavering commitment not just to his country but to his family, to his work, and to those closest to him… this would become Steve’s legacy.
Steve’s work ethic was unmatched. At age seven, he began picking pecans to sell for Christmas money. At age twelve, he bought a lawn mower so he could start mowing lawns for others. At age sixteen, he started investing in the stock market. After serving his country in the Marine Corps, Steve went to work for Worstell Oil and Sagebrush Pipeline. Steve later followed in his dad’s footsteps and went to work for Sinclair Refinery which became HollyFrontier. He retired in 2024 after more than twenty-five years of dedicated service. While exceptionally frugal throughout his life, Steve was also exceptionally generous with those he loved. His work ethic was always rooted in a deep desire to take care of his family.
Steve was most proud of his three children, Rachel, Perry, and Oliver and found his greatest joy later in life in his granddaughters, Riley and Elena. A devoted “Grumps” as they called him, Steve loved to swim and play with his granddaughters.
Steve married the love of his life, Emily, in August of 2013. Together, they loved spending time with their family and their puppies, building their dream home, fishing, traveling to Mexico, and working in their garden. Steve enjoyed lifting weights, golfing, and was an avid fisherman. In his free time when he wasn’t fishing at “Sis’s pond”, you could find him relaxing in his hot tub enjoying a good cigar and some Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Steve is survived by his wife Emily Dirickson of Owasso, OK; daughter Rachel Lucas (Ben) of Claremore, OK; sons Perry Dirickson and Oliver Dirickson both of Owasso, OK; father Jim Dirickson of Collinsville, OK; granddaughters Riley Lucas and Elena Lucas of Claremore, OK; sisters Vanessa Grubb (Dave) of Sapulpa, OK, and Janna Sandridge (Dave) of San Antonio, TX; countless nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Reva Dirickson.
Loyal, strong, bold, wise, a man of his word, often inappropriate, always fun… Steve was one of a kind! He will be missed tremendously, but his legacy of faithfulness to his family and his country will live on.
Services for Steve will be held at Mowery Funeral Service Chapel on Thursday, May 15th at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Eagle OPS Foundation, a veteran-founded nonprofit organization committed to helping service members and their families successfully transition home by building strong relationships and connecting them with critical resources… a cause Steve cared deeply about.
