Steven Hale Briar

Steven Hale Briar of Lake Wales passed away Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Lake Wales Medical Center.

He was born July 17, 1943 in Richmond, IN to the late Wilbur Gene & H. Joan (Graffis) Briar. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1966, then married and moved to Florida. During this time he raised his family in Coral Springs and worked for the retail company, Zayre, as the Director of Human Resources. After leaving retail, he moved back to Indiana where he worked as a part-time realtor for Lingle Real Estate in Richmond. He retired to Lake Wales, Florida in 2010.

Steve loved fishing, politics, birdwatching, and oldies music. He was our resident genealogist and has passed down valuable family history, both through his research and his own skill at storytelling. Steve was a wordsmith at heart and loved the English language. He was always up for a board game - I don’t think he ever lost a game of Scrabble! He enjoyed playing sports as a kid, and then became an avid spectator - seldom missing a Florida Gators football game or Hoosier basketball game.

Survivors include his daughters, Christine Briar Boyer (William) of Boise, ID and Julie Briar Grippo (René) of Boulder, CO; son, Chad A. Briar of Weaverville, NC; three grandchildren: Ryan Grippo, Jia Grippo and Ruby Grippo; an uncle, Dr. Thomas Graffis of Greencastle, IN; cousins MaryJoan (Pedigo) Price, Keith Pedigo, Greg Pedigo, Debbie (Graffis) Kelly, and Lynette (Graffis) Reed. He was preceded in death by his brother, Mike Briar.

Private family service will be scheduled at a later date.