Steven D. Hilbert

Born on June 5, 1949, in Independence, Missouri, he was the son of Gertrude and Wallace Hilbert of El Reno, Oklahoma.

Steve attended El Reno High School in Oklahoma, and he and his brothers helped his father run his father’s printing business. He graduated and volunteered to serve in the United States Marines and fought in the Vietnam War, where he was stationed in the DMZ and worked as a printer and printed out propaganda from 1968 to 1970.

Steve returned home, married Donna Sutton, and worked as a safety and inspection engineer at El Reno Federal Correctional Institution. In 1980, he transferred to New York to work at the Ray Brook Federal Correctional Institution and worked there for 16 years.

Steve was a very hard worker and a smart businessman. He owned and operated the Sara Placid Motor Inn in Saranac Lake for 35 years and purchased the Prescott house in Saranac Lake and ran that as a bed and breakfast for 10 years.

In August of 2000, Steve met his true love and soul mate Linda (Friend) Decker. They were married in Maui, Hawaii, accompanied by their best friends, Lynn and Jim Cameron and Zowie and Steve Lucas. After the wedding, they cruised to the surrounding islands of Hilo, Kona and Waikiki and had the most wonderful time.

Steve and Linda loved to cruise and they visited many Caribbean islands, Mexico and the Bahamas. Their last cruise was his favorite which was to the Mediterranean with their friends. They visited Rome and saw the Roman Colosseum and the Vatican, then to Istanbul, Turkey, where they toured the Blue Mosque and Topkopi Palace, then went on to explore the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos and Athens.

They also enjoyed vacationing in the Florida Keys and the Dominican Republic when they could get away for rest and relaxation.

In the summer, they especially loved and looked forward to having family gatherings at their camp on Lake Flower, where everyone enjoyed boating, swimming and barbecues and sitting around the campfire at night. Steve had a great sense of humor and was so much fun to be around.

Hobbies included restoring old classic cars: 1957 Chevy, 1956 Chevy and several Corvettes — his favorite being his split window 1963. He also loved to attend local car shows and car auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Florida with his good friend Doug Hoffman when he had the chance. He was an avid NASCAR fan and went to Atlanta Speedway and homestead whenever he could. Steve enjoyed playing tennis in the summer and downhill skiing in the winter and being from Oklahoma, he was a great line dancer, too.

Steve had that southern charm and was a true southern gentleman and touched so many lives as he was always so kind, caring and considerate to all his guests, friends and his family and will be deeply missed by all.

Steve was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and very generous and took great joy in his family.

He is survived by his wife Linda; daughter Jamie Grant; son Steven Clayton (Aubrey); brother Dale (Teresa) of McAlister, Oklahoma; sister-in-law Connie of Augusta, Georgia; grandchildren Kaylea Newstead, Jessie (Kayla) Grant, Hannah Spring, Jenna Morgan, Gabe Moynihan, Drake Mason and Jillian Hilbert; and great-grandchildren Olivia and Ava Newstead, and David Grant.

He is predeceased by his parents; stepfather Gene Kormylo; and brother Dwight.

Per his request, no calling hours or services will be held and a celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date for friends and family.

His family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff at the Adirondack Medical Center and Mercy Living Center nursing home for the exceptional care he received while he was a resident there.

A special love and appreciation to our daughter, Jamie, who remained steadfastly by his side.

Donations can be made to High Peaks Hospice in honor of his memory.

Services were entrusted to Heidrick-Zaumetzer Funeral Home, AuSable Forks. Condolences and words of support may be left at www.hzfuneralhome.com.