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Jeffrey Steven Fant Obituary

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Jeffrey Steven Fant

Corpus Christi, TX

May 10, 1958 - November 6, 2021

Jeffrey Steven Fant Obituary

Jeffrey Steven Fant, 63, passed away November 6, 2021 in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was born on May 10, 1958 in Jackson, Mississippi to Dr. William M. and Charlotte W. Fant. Steve graduated from King High School in 1976 and furthered his education at Texas A&M University in College Station with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics (1980) and Master of Science degree in Computer Science (1985). He began his teaching career in 1985 at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. In 1986, he continued teaching computer science, mathematics, and an occasional astronomy course at Corpus Christi State University, later becoming Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi. Steve retired from TAMU-CC in 2013.

Steve married Mary Kathleen Oliveira, his wife of 32 years, on July 8, 1989. He loved and was devoted to Mary and their children Elizabeth Marie and Dennis Alan. His priority was providing a well-maintained, supportive household for his family with fun and amusement. Throughout his life, Steve enjoyed his pets, rocketry, anything NASA related, motorcycle and camping trips, flying airplanes (before being old enough for a driver’s license), history of world wars, science fiction (Is there an Alan Dean Foster book he has not read?), world travel, Asian culture, cooking, baking, yard work, fine dining, rebuilding VW’s, Looney Tunes cartoons, video games, woodwork, electronics, building/fixing computers, and maintaining pinball machines. Highlights include his summer Mississippi visits to his grandmother, aunts, and cousins; attending, by invitation, the Apollo Soyuz Launch at Kennedy Space Center in 1975; silly song interactions and playing with his children; starting an electronics business - designing and building circuit boards and other items for his hobby of radio controlled cars and airplanes - and having his wife and children involved with shrink wrap and cutting wire; forming a dear friendship of almost 20 years with astronaut Alan Bean; sitting close at home, hand in hand, with his wife watching black and white movies from the 40’s and 50’s; having his daughter and granddaughter Emily back home in Corpus Christi; and seeing his son learn to pilot airplanes and produce a successful aviation-based podcast. Steve was happiest when spending time with his family (which included frequent visits full of humor with Beth and Ben) and helping anyone in any way he was able.

Recent years brought Steve great joy in serving in the TV ministry at First Baptist Church, Corpus Christi. He loved and enjoyed his church family and the ministerial staff, gaining and growing his faith under the teaching and preaching of his respected Senior Pastor, Dr. Brian Hill. Jeffrey Steven Fant was baptized February 7, 2021. He was committed to his daily devotionals with his wife Mary and impressed upon his children and granddaughter the importance of living a Christian life.

Steve was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his parents, Dr. and Mrs. W.M. Fant, M.D.; his Aunts, Dorothy Gross and Elaine Noblin; his Uncle, Tom Noblin; his nephew, Charles Marshall Fant; his mother-in-law, Dr. Elizabeth M. Oliveira, M.D., and many beloved pets. He is survived by his wife, Mary K. Oliveira Fant; children, Elizabeth Marie Fant and Dennis Alan Fant; granddaughter, Emily Anne Martinez; brother, Wayne (Lynette) Fant; father-in-law, Dr. Hector Oliveira, DDS; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Oliveira and Sarah (Mitchell) Gipson; brothers-in-law, Hector Oliveira, Alan Oliveira, and Benjamin Oliveira; nieces, Emily Renee Hamilton, Brooklynn Monette Fant, Antonia Bird (Justin Wood), Natalia Serrano Gold, and Hannah Oliveira; nephews, Andrew (Caitlin) Bird, William Bird (Amanda Boé), and Shane Oliveira; Emily’s father, Joshua Martinez and her grandparents, Mario and Sandra Martinez; cats, Chisana and Gaston Renard; and cousins, Timothy Gross, Deborah Gross Scott, Phyllis Boyd, Betty Roy, M.D., Mike Noblin and their families.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2021 in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church, 3115 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas. A Funeral Service will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary followed by a reception. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 20, 2021 at Providence Baptist Church Cemetery in Eupora, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the television ministry, or ministry of your choosing, at First Baptist Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.

To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Jeffrey Steven Fant hosted by Seaside Funeral Home.

Events

Event information can be found on the Official Obituary of Jeffrey Steven Fant.