Stephanie Lynne Clymer

Stephanie “Steff” L. Clymer (Stevig)

February 2, 1959 – July 19, 2025

Stephanie “Steff” Clymer (née Stevig) passed away on July 19, 2025, in San Diego, California, after being diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer earlier this year. Following her diagnosis, her daughter Jenn brought her to San Diego to live with and be lovingly cared for by her family, giving Steff the gift of sunshine, the ocean breezes and precious time with her family.

Born on February 2, 1959, in Oxnard, California, Steff was the daughter of Raymond Carl Stevig Jr., an Air Force veteran, and Avalon Blanche (Dowell) Stevig. Raised in Anchorage, Alaska, where her father was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base during the Korean War, Steff graduated from Robert Service High School in 1977.

Shortly after she met her future husband and best friend, Richard Clymer. They built a life together in Fairbanks, Alaska, marrying on April 26, 1980. Steff and Richard shared nearly 40 wonderful years of marriage until his passing in 2018. Together, they raised two daughters—Jennifer Lynne and Rachel Anne—and later cherished five grandchildren: Jacob Putnam, Kara Reed, Penny Reed, Ryan Putnam, and Ivy Reed.

Steff had a vibrant and creative spirit. Over the course of her life Steff pursued many hobbies and passions. Steff was a competitive bowler, and was a regular face at Arctic Bowl in the early 1980’s. A talented artist, she took drawing classes at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, mastered calligraphy, and taught herself to hand-sew and cross-stitch.

Professionally, Steff played a key role in the early years of the family tax firm, R.A. Clymer & Co (later Clymer, Hall & Davis), before launching her own business, Bookkeeping Concepts, in the 1980s. In true entrepreneurial spirit, she and Richard later acquired McCauley’s Reprographics and transformed it into Alaska Digital Printing, which she owned and operated for 24 successful years before retiring in 2023.

Service to others was a cornerstone of Steff’s life. As a youth, she was active in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and later returned as a dedicated adult volunteer when her daughters joined in 1993. She served as Mother Advisor for the Fairbanks Assembly and as State Mother Advisor in 2001 and 2002. Steff also lent her time and talents to Ice Alaska’s World Ice Art Championships and worked on the 2017–2018 political campaign for Bill Walker.

She was a devoted supporter of local food banks and animal shelters. In her memory, donations may be made to the Fairbanks Community Food Bank https://fairbanksfoodbank.org or Forget-Me-Not Animal Rescue https://fmnrescue.org—causes close to her heart.

Steff was truly one of a kind. As she liked to say, she “beat to the music of her own drum.” She was direct, honest, and unapologetically herself. Those who knew her will remember her sarcastic humor, her deep love for her grandchildren, her white Reebok sneakers, her beloved Diet Dr Pepper, and her impressive Swarovski crystal collection.

She is survived by her daughters, Jenn (Howie) Reed of San Diego, CA, and Rachel Clymer of Fairbanks, AK; and her grandchildren, Jacob (15), Kara (13), Penny (11), Ryan (10), and Ivy (10).

Per her wishes, no funeral or memorial service will be held. Steff asked only to have her ashes placed beside her beloved husband, Richard in their family gravesite in El Dorado, Kansas.