Stephen Divine

February 2, 1948 - January 18, 2020
 
Stephen Divine Owner and operator of Churn Creek Golf Course and "The Whitehouse" at Churn Creek golf course passed away Saturday, Jan 18th, 2020. He was 71. 

Stephen is survived by his wife Deborah M. Divine, nephew Rick Divine, niece Shelliey Small. 
He was preceded in the death Mother, Nora J Divine, Father, Dee Divine, Brother, Robert Divine. 

Stephen was born in Redding Ca, on February 2, 1948. He attended CSUChico, where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Education, minor in psychology. He also earned his California Teaching Credential; Special Education. 

Stephen had many interests in Architecture - especially Monticello and the Palladian influence, Chinese Chippendale, and lots of classic style decorative moldings.  He collected Chinese art and loved antique furniture.  He also collected hand-blown glass from Orient and Flume and all things Waterford.  He was also a great lover of classical music and often had NPR playing orchestral music or an opera in the Churn Creek Pro Shop.
Stephen and his wife Deborah were married for 27 years, all of them happy.   He was an amazing husband and partner.  

Stephen loved to walk. The Victorian section of Red Bluff was a favorite destination in years past when he was healthier sometimes walking as much as five miles.   He always felt at peace there and enjoyed escaping the pressure of work.   He also had a fierce love of the property that is now Churn Creek Golf Course.   He moved to the  “country” from downtown Redding with his family when he was eight years old and spent many happy hours tending to the farm animals and limited crops they planted.   He recalled watering with water from the ACID canal, and that they had a multi-party phone line.   When his father retired from his barbershop in old downtown Redding and the cattle market had a particularly bad year, the decision was made to convert the farm into a golf course. Using the tractor (which we still have) Stephen and his father built a golf course and his mother didn’t figure it out until they were halfway done.   Stephen was teaching at Trinity High in Weaverville at the time so he would commute home and help his dad.   He would max out his credit card buying bargain trees to plant over and over again and he always said that he knew exactly where every irrigation pipe was laid because he had stood on the back of the tractor to give it enough weight to dig deeply enough.  Everywhere you look at Churn  Creek Golf Course - you see Stephen’s influence.  It was always more than a business - it was his legacy.

Deborah Divine;  I want to remark on how many people have said this past week how much they enjoyed  just sitting and talking with Stephen.   He never knew a stranger and people just seemed to gravitate to him.  His death has left a huge hole in all the lives of those who knew and loved him. I will miss him.

 Stephen was always gracious and a friend to our golf association. I enjoyed the many long talks when I had the chance to visit with him. His health was always a concern as he had to endure many physical issues. Now for the first time in a long time, he is now without pain. If there is a heaven I picture him relaxing listening to classical music overlooking a divine garden setting. Rest in peace Stephen.

Rick Faller