Steve Rutledge Thompson

Steven Rutledge Thompson of Kittery, Maine, and formerly a long-time resident of Eliot, Maine passed away on Friday, July 2, 2021. Steve spent his last weeks in the home and care of his daughter, Caitlyn Sowell. Steve was born on July 7, 1951 at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Kittery, ME. He was the second child of Kenneth and Phyllis Thompson of Eliot. Steve is survived by his daughter Caitlyn Sowell and her husband Noah Sowell of Sanford, Maine; step-daughter Erin Goodnight and her husband Dan and son Bryce, all of Strafford, NH; and by three siblings - sister Jo Anna French and husband Jack of Spruce Head, Maine; Scott Thompson and Monica Zulauf of Bristol, NH; Bill and Josephine Thompson of Buena Park, CA and many nieces and nephews across the country. He was predeceased by both parents and his brother John. Steve has worked for most of his adult life in human services - most recently for many years at the Rockingham County Community Action Program. Prior to that he worked with adults with disabilities at the Laconia State School, River Valley Ventures in Pittsfield and Community Services Council in Concord. In his early years Steve worked in the building trades. He was both insightful and artistic, and connected with many people through multiple artistic ventures. As a younger man, Steve was in several bands as a guitarist and singer, perhaps most memorably performing locally with friends Mike Rogers and Ric Harris as the band Three Slices Short. He also performed Down-East humor for social events with friends Tom Buzzell and Bill Rix as The Three Amigos.  Steve was also a very capable wood carver. In recent years, Steve used his long memory and love of story-telling to create cartoon drawings and stories he shared with family and friends under the title Poor Damn Foolery. These cartoons brought into vivid illustration humorous or poignant events from Steve's lifetime or family lore, and were marked by his characteristic self-deprecating humor. Steve's interest in local and family history also led him to take up genealogy, and he delighted in doing the research needed to add a new leaf to the family tree. Steve was a longstanding member of the Eliot Baha'i Community. Steve will be sorely missed by friends and family alike. Memorial Services will be held at the Edgerly Funeral Home in Rochester, NH on Saturday July 17, 2021 ay 1 PM with visitation the same day from 11-1PM in the chapel of the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home. 86 South Main Street, Rochester, NH. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Eliot ME In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wentworth Hospice. Checks payable to Amedisys Foundation can be mailed to Wentworth Hospice, 9 Andrews Road, Somersworth, NH 03878.