Steve Garmrath and Lantha Garmrath share three sons together and have always remained great friends throughout the challenging periods of their lives. Lantha shares her perspective with her relationship with Steve, and gives insight on how he grew through his troubles.
Lantha Garmrath is an 8th-grade Social Studies teacher at Paragould Junior High School. She started teaching in 1986 and continued to teach for 37 years. She also was a coach at PJHS for basketball and cheer. She coached basketball for 12 years and cheer for 5.
"His life was an open book to everyone in Paragould, the good, the bad and the ugly."
When did you meet Steve, and how did he impact you personally?
I met Steve in 1984, while we were both in college. He was at UCA and I was at ASU. He was very outgoing, fun, and charming. He played football at UCA and either I went there or he came home every weekend for 2 years until we were engaged. We had many of the same interests in sports, and hobbies and we were both in education/coaching. He also gave me 3 wonderful sons who we both loved with all our hearts.
What did he do for our community?
As an educator, he was very energetic and interesting to his students not only trying to motivate them to learn but his teaching was a true passion to him whether it was in the class or on the field he wanted them to be the best they could be.
He was an avid weather freak and tried to keep everyone posted about his theories! lol, he was right a lot! He helped the city with some tornado warning projects when he taught at PJHS. During a very dark period in his life, he lost everything he had worked for. In 2018, he chose to change his life and all that had gone wrong. He gave his life to the Lord. Those last 5 years of his life, I believe were his biggest contribution to this community. He worked endless hours helping other addicts, taking them to rehabs, and meetings, talking with them, checking on them, praying for them, and loving them. He knew God had spared his life and believed it was now his calling to help others find their way. Hundreds and hundreds of people wrote, called, and visited us telling us how he had saved their life and their family by leading them to God and John 3:16 ministries.
What was your happiest memory with Steve?
We had lots of happy family memories but after his life changed, our happiest times were watching the Lord work through him.
If you had to describe the legacy he left behind, what would you say?
I hope his life showed what can happen when you live for the world instead of for God. His life was an open book to everyone in Paragould, the good, the bad, and the ugly. But he did show many that recovery is possible through God. His life is proof.
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