Steven Wayne Saylors

Steven Wayne Saylors: October 7, 1952 – August 29, 2025

ST. HELENS- Steven Wayne Saylors was born on October 7, 1952, in Heidelberg, Germany, to Kenneth Saylors and Martina MacNeal.
He died at the Hopewell House in Portland, Oregon, on August 29, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Steve’s formative years were shaped by his father’s military service, which included assignments in Germany, Washington, and California.
A true West Coast boy at heart, he enjoyed sailboat racing and surfing in his youth.
Steven joined the U.S. Army and trained in electrical power generation at Ft. Belvoir’s Army Engineering School, and served in Korea and California. Steven graduated with a BSEE in 1984 from CSU-Sacramento, specializing in electrical power generation and transmission.
Over his illustrious career, Steven was responsible for the design, construction, and operation of electrical power plants, including wind, nuclear and coal-fired, as well as power transmission and distribution projects.
Steven dedicated the last 20 years of his career at Vestas Americas advancing wind energy, where he not only engineered cutting-edge turbines but also served as a leading voice on the future of renewable power.
Alongside his career at Vestas, he also taught Motor Drives at Portland Community College and Wind Power at Oregon Institute of Technology.
In addition to membership in the National Society of Professional Engineers/Professional Engineers of Oregon, he was inducted into the Order of the Engineer in 1994. As a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, he was the 1996 Oregon Section Chairman, and he was honored with the IEEE Millennium Award in 2000.
Outside of his career, Steven was a man of many passions. He found great joy in music, often playing his harmonica or supporting the local blues scene. An avid outdoorsman, he loved being on the water, whether fly fishing on a quiet river or simply enjoying a day on his boat. He also had a deep love of travel, diving into new experiences and cultures, eager to learn and explore. Come baseball season, his loyalty was always with the San Francisco Giants. Above all, he cherished the simple moments spent with his beloved friends, family, and his faithful doodle-dog, Barli.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Saylors; his brother, Robert Saylors; and his father, Kenneth Saylors.
Survivors include his daughter, Angela Saylors; son-in-law, Korey Stafford; siblings, Karen Byron and Skip Saylors; and his mother, Martina MacNeal.
Funeral Mass: Thursday, September 18. Rosary at 10:30 AM and Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Frederic Catholic Church in Saint Helens. Followed by reception and internment.
Celebration of Life: Saturday, September 20th. Beginning at 4pm. Enso Winery in SE Portland. Please don Hawaiian Shirts or Blues attire and come with your favorite stories of Steve. Kim Field will play blues music in his honor.