Steve Boyce, aka “Fshyone,” aka “Griz” or “Uncle Griz,” aka “Guido,” left this earth too soon on Wednesday February 25, 2026. The world has lost a loving, compassionate, loyal, fun-loving, generous, engaging, kind-hearted person who loved life. He had a big laugh, the most infectious laugh many have ever known.

Steve was born in San Fernando, California. He lived in New Mexico and then Washington state for some years before relocating to Humboldt County in the early 1980s, where he lived ever since.

In his youth, Steve was an avid athlete, playing football and baseball from little league all through high school, ultimately playing for a minor league baseball team in southern California. After relocating to Humboldt County, he played for the College of the Redwoods baseball team in his 30s where he gave the young guys a run for their money.

Steve was a veteran, having served as a Corpsman in the Navy from 1971-1975. While he disagreed with and spent plenty of time protesting the Vietnam War, he ultimately enlisted when he drew a lottery number 9, deciding to join the Navy instead of being drafted. He had a short stint as the “Forrest Gump of the Navy,” spending nearly his entire bootcamp playing (and beating) his superiors (and there were many since he was only in bootcamp) at ping pong.

After leaving the Navy, he received a call from a former sailor who asked him if he was interested in learning how to do ultrasound. He trained under some of the “grandfathers” of ultrasound, who were professors at USC and UCLA and ultimately became a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS). He loved practicing ultrasound from the first time he started learning, and he continued in this career until his retirement in approximately 2005. He was certified in many modalities and was able to image the entire body. He never stopped learning about ultrasound. His favorite modalities were prenatal, cardiac and vascular. He loved being able to show new parents images of their unborn child and he told of times when he would freeze an image of a baby’s hand and put it on a loop so that it looked like the baby was waving to the parents, who of course loved the gesture.

Everyone who knew Steve knew him to love the outdoors. In his adult life two of his favorite hobbies were fishing and hunting. His fishing adventures are many and he came to know the Eel River like the back of his hand; he spent many, many hours and years in his drift boat, FSHYTWO, on both the Van Duzen and the Eel. He occasionally ventured to the Smith or Rogue in Oregon, but he loved the local rivers most. He was an elk and deer hunting guide in Colorado for many, many years where he had countless adventures and made friends he kept in touch with for life. Steve loved the part about hunting that meant being with friends and exploring and studying and learning from nature. Steve was passionate and unwavering in his commitment to honoring the deer and elk he hunted; he always said prayer and offered gratitude to the animal for providing sustenance.

Steve was also an avid long range precision target shooter. He was a member of Long Prairie Gun & Archery Club for decades, pretty much from the time he moved to Humboldt. In the years before his passing, he became the Vice President of the Club, which gave him a voice (sometimes a loud voice) in the day-to-day operations of the Club.

German Shorthaired Pointers captured Steve’s heart from early adulthood. His first GSP, Buck, got him hooked, and they had many adventures. While he dabbled in bird hunting with Buck for a very short time, he ultimately just loved the loyalty, goofiness, intelligence and athleticism of the breed. Following Buck were Sammy and Budd and the current good boy, Bear, who misses him greatly.

Steve loved his family; his friends; dogs; sunrises and sunsets; chocolate-chocolate-chocolate; hard physical work; an ice cold beer (PBR or Downtown Brown); talking hunting; talking fishing; talking precision shooting; photography; watching college football; woodworking and furniture building; pacific giant salamanders; noticing the rainbows in dewdrops; conversing with ravens; backpacking and hiking; water skiing; snow skiing; river rafting; anything that immersed him in what nature had to offer; filet mignon; elk tenderloin; elk sausage with jalapeno and cheddar; good conversation and healthy respectful debate; John Wayne movies; military and historical books; stewarding land; the Trinity Alps Wilderness; and so, so, so much more.

Steve was outgoing and friendly. He is and will be missed by many.

As were his wishes, he passed away at home with his wife Connie by his side, supported by their dear friend, Krista.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Betty Boyce. He is survived by his partner of more than 25 years and wife, Connie Scheckla, his son Jarid Boyce (Angie), his daughter Janis Gallagher, and his grandchildren Sophia Boyce, Lucas Boyce and Adele Gallagher.

Steve specifically wanted to thank Dr. Emily Davis of Open Door, FNP Lori Cutler of the VA, and all the staff and practitioners of Hospice of Humboldt, both the Palliative Care team and the Hospice team, for their compassion and care at the end of his life. His family, too, is immeasurably grateful for all of their support.

Remembrances may be made to Hospice of Humboldt or to Long Prairie Gun and Archery Club.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2 to 5 p.m., at “The Creek,” where he loved spending time during the spring, summer and fall. For anyone who would like to attend, you can reach out to Connie directly, or text (707) 498-8555 and details will be provided.