Stephen David Booker, of Frisco, Texas, was born 7/23/77 and passed away 10/3/16 from medullary thyroid cancer. A celebration of Stephen’s life will take place Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Preston Meadow Lutheran Church, Plano, TX at 3 PM.
Our beloved son, brother, husband, and father is survived by many loving family members and friends. Among the family, his parents, David and Barbara Booker of North Richland Hills, TX; brother James Booker of Austin, TX; wife, Christine Booker of Frisco, and five children, Wesley (12), Ryan (10), Chloe (7), Rachel (15) and Samantha (15).
He is also survived by his grandfather, Lee Roy Itz; parents-in-law Leif and Elsa Petursson; brother-in-law Pete Petursson, his wife Barbara and nephews Bobby and Erik Petursson; aunt Peggy Horton and her husband Walt, aunt Audrey Cassle and her husband Eddie; uncles Michael Booker, Donald Booker, Bob G. Booker, Jr.; aunt Jennifer Pritchard and her husband Ken; and numerous cousins and family throughout Texas and in Huntington Beach CA and Bellvue, NE.
Stephen lived an amazingly vibrant life full of activities with family, intellectual pursuits and work in public service, and enjoyed sports throughout his life as a player, coach, and fan. He attended Richland High School, where he focused on band, choir, and theater. He earned a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Sociology from University of Texas, Austin, where he was very proud to be a member of the Longhorn Band all four years – combining his love of sports and music. While at UT, he was on the Dean’s list and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity.
Stephen earned his Juris Doctor, Cum Laude from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, May 2002. While at SMU, he was on the Dean’s List fall 1999, spring 2001, and spring 2002; a member of the International Law Review Association; Editor-in-Chief, Law and Business Review of the Americas, 2001-2002; Staff Editor, The International Lawyer, 2000-2001; Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity, 2000-2002; Honor Council, 2001-2002.
After graduating from law school, Stephen worked at United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Norfolk, Virginia as a Staff Attorney from August 2002 to August 2003. In August 2003, Stephen returned to Texas and joined the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division as a criminal prosecutor in their Dallas Field Office. He also detailed as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, prosecuting a 19-count Ponzi case in 2007. Stephen stayed with the Dallas office until it closed and then transferred to the Antitrust Division’s Chicago Field Office in 2013. He was described as “a very smart, very persistent prosecutor who was focused on getting to the right answer and serving the public in all that he did.”
Stephen married his college sweetheart in July 1999. They have three children, Wesley, Ryan, and Chloe. The couple divorced in October 2011.
Stephen met his wife Chris through work and they married in May 2014, blending Stephen’s three children with Chris’ two daughters, Rachel and Samantha. The joy of Stephen’s life was his five children. Living simply together as a family, having dinner, doing homework, watching them play soccer or do archery, and spending family time on vacations or watching movies. He was very proud of all their accomplishments, including encouraging their musicianship in middle school and high school marching band.
Stephen was also a huge sports fan. He played football, baseball, and soccer as a child, umpired as a teen, and later coached his children in soccer. Stephen loved all teams Texas, of course, but with a love of the Chicago Cubs as well. When he wasn’t dressed for work, there was usually a UT Longhorn somewhere on his apparel.
Stephen requested to be cremated. His remains will be scattered in a private family ceremony.
We invite everyone to a celebration of Stephen’s life, Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Preston Meadow Lutheran Church, Plano, TX at 3 PM. We ask that guests wear something representing their favorite sports team – Longhorns, Cowboys, Rangers, Cubs, or other pro or college teams or their local soccer club jersey. We will honor his life, celebrate his accomplishments, and look forward to sharing our favorite Stephen stories.
Donations to thyca.org, for research and treatments of medullary thyroid cancer, in Stephen’s honor are appreciated.