DUNCAN, Okla. — Steven Zamarripa, of Duncan, Okla., passed away on July 22, 2026, surrounded by his family after a short but aggressive battle with cancer. He was born March 5, 1950, in Great Bend, Kan., to Catarino and Felipa (Briones) Zamarripa. He graduated from Great Bend High School in 1969, where he was the quarterback of the football team.
Steven married Judy (Nagel) Zamarripa on Sept. 19, 1970, in Great Bend, Kan. To their union, they added three daughters, Karie, Kelly, and Kacy.
His oil field career began with Mobil Oil in Great Bend, Kan. His career led him to Liberal, Kan., Chickasha, Okla., and finally settling in 1988 in Duncan, Okla. He has a very large oil field family who became lifelong friends. He took a break from working in 2020 to care for Judy during her cancer journey, and continued to work after she passed until 2025.
Steven loved sports. Many of his later years were spent at golf courses, but if he wasn’t on the course, he was watching football, the New York Yankees or the Kansas Jayhawks. He also enjoyed his music. He had a great influence on his kids and grandkids and their choice of favorite teams and music.
Though his family grieves the loss of an extraordinary husband, father, Papa, brother, and friend, they rejoice knowing he is completely healed, fully restored, and forever in the presence of Jesus. The man who spent his life helping others has now heard the words he longed for most, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Judy Zamarripa; his parents, Catarino and Felipa Zamarripa; six brothers, Richard, Pantaleon, Peter, Paul, Frank Zamarripa, and Richard Joel Zamarripa; one sister, Ramona Zamarripa; and his mother- and father-in-law, Albert and Marcena Nagel. Steve is survived by his children, Karie and husband Charles W. Carpenter of Piedmont, Okla., Kelly and husband Bryan Merritt of Chickasha, Okla., Kacy and husband James Popham of Duncan, Okla.; grandchildren, Mackenzie and Kyle McKnight, Kendall Carpenter, Kaylen and Laney Merritt, Avery, Emery and Tyson Popham; great-grandson, Lucas McKnight; eight sisters, Carmen Skelly, Mary Ingram, Rose and Lonnie Sands, Josie and Dennis Morrison, Isabell and Don Eargood, Angie Ingram, Becky Morrison, Vivian Bahr; sister-in-law, Susan and Lee Major; brother-in-law, David Nagel; and many extended family members.
A joint memorial service for both Steven and his brother, Paul Zamarripa Sr., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, at Bryant Funeral Home with Pastor Dennis Morrison, Jr. presiding. Inurnment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery. A memorial service at Whitt Funeral Home in Duncan, Okla., was held for Steven on Monday, July 27, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oklahoma Parkinson’s Alliance or Freedom Biker Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. A special thank you to the Chisholm Trail Hospice Center and the Duncan Regional Hospital staff for their continued care and compassion. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Aug. 1, 2026
