Steven R. Gooch

Steven R. Gooch, 59, passed from this life Tuesday, September 30, 2025, in Wichita, Kansas. Steven was born May 2, 1966, in Hugoton, Kansas to Jim and Nina Gooch.

Steve, affectionately referred to by his friends as just “Gooch,” was employed by Bevan Aviation in Wichita, Kansas for 26 years. He was an avionics installer, the avionics shop manager, and Bevan’s chief test pilot. Bevan Aviation is indebted to him for his knowledge and expertise in panel design and avionics aptitude. His Bevan family says, Gooch will be greatly missed, and we will keep his memory alive.

Steve was an exceptional pilot. Flying was his passion and the observation of him becoming “one” with the plane was shared by many.

Steven graduated from Hugoton High School in 1984. After high school, he attended Kansas State University where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Steve later earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Wichita State University.

As a K-State alum, Steve contributed through the purchase of season football tickets for over 3 decades with his dad. You could frequently find him in their parking spot heading up the tail gaiting action.

The light of Gooch’s life and the person who put the most purpose in it was his stepdaughter, Paige.

To know Gooch was to love him. He enjoyed life to the fullest, always had everyone laughing, and made the time to spend meaningful and countless hours with his many friends, family, and colleagues, securing special memories of him that will reside in their hearts forever.

Steven is preceded in death by his mother, Nina Gooch. He is survived by his father, James L. Gooch of Hugoton, Kansas; brothers, Kyle (Jamie) Gooch, Cary (Linda) Gooch; sister, Amy (Robert) Rich, all of Hugoton; stepdaughter, Paige Hatfield of Wichita; nieces, Holly (Joshua) Grubbs of Hugoton, Megan Rohrer of Buffalo, Oklahoma, Rebecca (Sage) Hodgson of Mooreland, Oklahoma; nephews, Jeremy (Crystal) Landis of Loveland, Colorado, Quinn Mason of Sugarland, Texas, Brian Gooch of Hugoton, Kale Mason of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Seth Mason of Manhattan, Kansas; 10 great nieces and nephews; best friend & loyal canine companion, Harley.

Celebration of Life Service will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West Chapel, 10515 West Maple, in Wichita. If you would like, WEAR PURPLE in honor of Gooch and our K-State Wildcats.

Memorials have been established for the benefit of Paige Hatfield with Citizens State Bank, 601 South Main Street, Hugoton, Kansas 67951 and Kansas State University Foundation Athletics Fund, 1800 Kimball Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan, Kansas 66502-3373.