Stephen Lee Sovel

Steve Sovel passed away at his home on March 13th, 2024 after a very short but incredibly courageous battle with cancer. He was 77 years old. A man of few words but a personality larger than life, Steve loved his family and friends more than anything in the world. An avid outdoorsman and skilled mechanic, Steve was always the first to jump at the opportunity to help a friend in need. He will be greatly missed in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

Born in 1946 in Santa Rosa, CA, he graduated from Petaluma High School in 1965. He set off on many adventures after graduating but most loved being a cowboy on a ranch in Ravendale, CA, where he made life-long friends along the way. He later became a Diesel Mechanic through a trade school in Alameda and worked for Clover Stornetta Farms until retiring in 2004. He was introduced to his wife of 50 years, Judy (Fisher), by his cousin Charry (Drake) Hutchison in 1972. They got married in 1974 and purchased their first home on Bassett Street the same year. The oldest grandson of pioneer Petaluma chicken ranchers, the late Gussie & Ben Sovel, Steve grew up getting into trouble on the family ranch with his brother, Rick, and cousins Barry & Terry. He was a third generation member of the Circle D hunting ranch in Cloverdale, and also enjoyed duck hunting, camping, and fishing (from the safety of the shore - no boats!). He loved traveling out of state on hunting trips with his closest friends, and spending time in Lake Tahoe at the family cabin. He always had a project on the horizon, whether rebuilding classic cars or sorting out an argument with the heavy equipment around his property. The only rooster in a henhouse of daughters and granddaughters, he was happiest when surrounded by his loved ones.

Steve is survived by his wife Judy Sovel, daughters Stephannie Sovel Mellor and Megan Sovel Fischer (Mike), granddaughters Makenzi & Sydni Mellor, and Macey Fischer, stepsiblings Svea Norton & Mark Horn, and cousins Barry Sovel (Carol), Terry Piotrkowski (Nathan), Bill Drake (Diana), and Charry Hutchison (Gene). He is predeceased by parents Charles “Herb” Sovel (Martha), Geraldine Norton (Richard), brother Rick Sovel, and cousins Susie Frassetti (Bill) & Mike Drake (Cindy).

There will be a celebration of life on March 30th, 2024 from 12-4 p.m. at Torches Restaurant (256 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma CA). Come as you are, we will share stories and toast to Steve. Private burial at Cypress Hill Memorial Park.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stephen Lee Sovel, please visit our floral store.