Stephen James Woods, (also known as Steve Woods) Age 78, passed away on June 28, 2026 at Northern Nevada Medical Center, Sparks, NV. Steve was born in Sioux City, Iowa, February 5, 1948, and was adopted at birth by Charles R. and Mary M. Woods. Steve lived with his parents in Cedar Rapids, IA for 2 years, and then they moved to San Antonio for 2 years. After that they moved to Denver, Colorado, and Steve grew up in Arvada, Lakewood and Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Steve graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in 1965. After high school, Steve went to work at the Colorado Department of Highways as a material tester and attended Metropolitan State College. Having an interest in biology, anatomy and physiology, Steve went to work at Lutheran Hospital. While employed at the hospital, he experienced riding in an ambulance and found that he really liked emergency care. He went to the American Red Cross and was certified in Standard and Advanced First Aid before becoming a First Aid Instructor and then a First Aid Instructor Trainer.

Steve started working on the ambulance at Aid Ambulance Service in Denver, Co, in 1967. In 1968, Steve attended Advance Training in Emergency Care at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In 1969, Steve was selected to attend and graduated from the first Emergency Medical Technician Course in the United States by the Colorado Trauma Committee, American College of Surgeons. (EMT License #69-1-27). Steve continued his education in Emergency Care and EMT services for several years. In 1972, Steve became a nationally Registered EMT-Ambulance #321 and was appointed to the Colorado Board of Examiners for EMTs in the Colorado Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Section. In 1973, Steve was one of the original 12 founding members of the Emergency Medical Technician Association of Colorado (known as the “Dirty Dozen”), served as President from 1980 to 1981, received several meritorious and distinguished service awards, and was appointed as a Life Honor Member. Today, the association is known as the Emergency Medical Service Association of Colorado (EMSAC). Also in 1973, Steve was appointed to the Board of Examiners of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. In 1976, Steve was a Founding Member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Society and the first recipient of the A. Roger Fox Founders Award for leadership in 1979. In 1978, Steve was certified as an Emergency Medical Technician in the State of Wyoming. (#A-2677).

Steve moved to Hawaii in 1973, and was the first nationally Registered EMT in the State of Hawaii. He appeared on the television series “Hawaii Five-0” on December 11, 1973, for the first time as an ambulance driver and appeared several times. He returned to the mainland in 1974, attended school at Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) in Auburn, NY, and received his LPN degree in 1976. Steve was licensed as a nurse in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. 

Steve returned to Colorado in 1977 as a Rio Grande County Deputy Coroner and worked as a Nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He continued to work on the Del Norte Colorado ambulance as well. Steve also served as the Jail Nurse, appointed by Sheriff Jerry Wright, Rio Grande Sheriff’s Department from 1977 through 1986. In 1980, Steve was appointed as the Presiding Municipal Judge for City of Del Norte, Colorado and served through 1981. He also served as the Deputy Coroner of Saguache County, Colorado from 1980 to 1981. 

In 1979 and 1980 Steve assisted in the development of the Emergency Evacuation Program for Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Firemen, and Rescue Personnel through United Airlines Emergency Procedures Section at the United Airlines Denver Flight Training Center and became certified by United Airlines for Emergency Evacuation of Downed Aircraft in 1980.

In 1982, Steve was seriously injured in an automobile accident and, as a result, Steve left emergency medical services and entered into the world of Medico-Legal Death Investigation full-time. 

In 1984, Steve became the Chief Deputy Coroner for the Rio Grande County Coroner’s Office. He attended The Medico-legal Death Investigator Training Course at the St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1985. Steve served as the Chief Deputy Coroner in Rio Grande County until 1986, when he joined the Washoe County Coroner-Medical Examiner’s Office, as the Deputy Coroner-Investigator. In 1987, Steve attended the Masters Course in Death Investigation at St. Louis University School of Medicine. In 1993, Steve became a member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses at the First Annual Assembly in Sacramento, California. He was elected Co-Chairman of the Death Investigation Council for the International Association of Forensic Nurses. In 1999, Steve achieved the rank of Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator, License# 050 and in 2002, he received Board Certification from the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, Inc. (Certificate #BC050). In 2007, Steve was recertified as a Board-Certified Medicolegal Death Investigator (#BC50). From 2003 through 2007, Steve attended the New England Seminars in Forensic Sciences at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Steve continued as the Deputy Coroner-Investigator for the Washoe County Coroner-Medical Examiner’s Office until his retirement in 2008.

After retirement, Steve and Elaine opened a business called A Beloved Friends Pet Crematory of Northern Nevada in 2008. They joined the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories. Steve was interested in supporting ethics in the industry, and became a member, and eventually Co-Chair, of the Standards Committee for the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories. Steve and the Standards Committee were instrumental in creating the first Accreditation Standard in the industry. A Beloved Friends Pet Crematory of Northern Nevada became the first fully accredited Pet Crematory by International Standards in the world.

Steve is survived by Elaine Woods (nee Kozar), his wife of 31 years, of the home. Elaine and Steve met in Reno, Nevada and were wed in Las Vegas, NV, on December 14, 1994. Steve is also survived by three daughters: Juliette Marie Woods, of Reno, NV; Paula May Legge (Steven), of St. David, AZ; and Jerilyn Lee Woods, Tucson, AZ. Steve and Elaine share her two children, who survive him as well: Jared Davies (Michelle Papillon) of Reno, NV; and Alyson Willey (Brett), of Fernley, NV. Steve also has 6 grandchildren, Nigel Conlee (Katherine), Ayla Conlee, Elizabeth Subia, Justin Subia, Lauren Willey, and Tyler Willey. Steve’s great-grandchildren are Krysta and Drake Conlee.

Later in life, Steve learned of and met his biological brothers and sisters. They include Sharon Power, of Milwaukee, WI; Cynthia McGinnis (Tim), of Broken Bow, OK; Susan Jaeger Mitchell (David), of Anthem, AZ; John Crawford of San Antonio, TX (deceased 2009); and Gerald Crawford, San Antonio, TX.

Steve was preceded in death by Elizabeth Woodard (1990), former spouse, in Pahoa, HI; Betty Jo Goodman (2014), former spouse, in Tuscon, AZ; and his parents, Charles R. (2002) and Mary M. (2004) Woods, both in Sparks, NV.

Visitation will be held at Truckee Meadows Cremation & Burial Chapel, 437 Stoker Ave, Reno, NV on July 8, 2026 from 12 pm to 3 pm with a Rosary being said at 2 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held on July 9, 2026 at 10am at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 5650 Vista Blvd., Sparks, NV. Entombment will be held at Most Holy Redeemer Mausoleum at Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Reno, NV following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, Steve would like donations to be made to the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado, 7173 South Havana St. Centennial, Colorado 80112 (emsac@emsac.org) in his memory.