Drama director at Fremont High School

Steven C. Booton, 51, of Blair, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2011.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at Country Bible Church in Blair. No visitation will be held.

Steven C. Booton was born Feb. 23, 1960, to Billy L. and Helen F. (Gunsolley) Booton.

He attended school in Blair, beginning in 1st grade, and graduated from Blair High School and earned his first bachelor's degree in theater at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.

After many years of working in corporate America, he earned a second bachelor's degree in secondary education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was in his second year of employment at Fremont High School, where he had taken on the role of drama director this fall. This was a dream job for him; he took great pride in teaching the art of theater and found watching the students learn and grow as one of the greatest joys in his life.

He married Melanie Kropf of Raton, N.M., on July 22, 1989.

He is survived by his wife, Melanie; daughters, Aubryna Booton of Omaha and Ciaran Booton of Lincoln; son and daughter-in-law, Dreyson and Jillian Solano of Omaha; granddaughters, Allorah and Roslyn Solano of Omaha; parents, Bill and Helen Booton of Blair; mother-in-law, Ruby Kropf of Capulin, N.M.; sisters and brother-in-law Kathleen Booton of Blair; and Lori and Domingo Cruz of Capulin; brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Sue Booton of Omaha; brother-in-law, Wade Kropf of Eagle Nest, N.M.; nieces and nephews, Claire and Parker Booton of Omaha, Alesha, Lonnie and Brent Cruz of Capulin, and Caleb Kropf of Blackhawk, Colo.; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Dar and Lois Soll, and Frank and Edna Gunsolley; son, Berek Solano; father-in-law, Archie Kropf.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the theater departments at either Blair or Fremont High School.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.