Steven Cartee, a resident of Las Vegas, NM, passed away peacefully at the age of 56, at the University of NM Hospital’s Critical Care Tower in Albuquerque, NM on February 1, 2026 after a 42 year battle with Epilepsy.

Steven was born on February 22,1969 in Smithtown, NY and grew up on New York’s Long Island and in southern Florida. He moved to New Mexico with his parents in 1992 where he met his wife and started a family.

Anyone who knew Steven, knew he was passionate about New York Yankees Baseball. He was rarely seen around town without a Yankees cap on his head and a Yankees jersey or t-shirt on his back. The MLB and YES networks were his favorite channels, teaching his wife everything he knew about baseball and the Yankees. He often quizzed her on facts and stats as they traveled together to see his beloved Yankees play. His favorite player of course was Derek Jeter and his favorite broadcaster, Michael Kay. He assembled a large collection of memorabilia over his life.

Steven worked his way from a salad prep cook to Executive Chef over his lifetime. His last professional job before retirement in 2010 was as the Executive Chef of the Plaza Hotel Restaurant on the historic plaza in Las Vegas, NM. He was passionate about teaching not only his children, but his nieces and nephews how to cook from the time they could reach the counter tops on a step stool. His children grew up in and around commercial kitchens and could out cook most adults by their teen years. Although his specialty was Italian cuisine, he learned to cook New Mexico Style from his wife and mother in law.

Steven is predeceased by his mother, Sandra Faye Iosue, his maternal grandparents Robert and Stella McLean, his step grandmother Linda McLean, his uncle Robert McLean Jr., his wife’s grandparents Herman and Lucy Saiz, whom he was close too, and his sister in law Jacqueline “Jackie” Salas.

Steven is survived by his devoted wife of 32 years, Yvonne, who cared and advocated for him without question or complaint. His children, whom he referred to as his greatest accomplishments, Matthew (Carlos) of Rio Rancho, NM and Dani Marie of Las Vegas, NM. His step father, who he lovingly called “Pop”, Carmine Iosue of Chandler, AZ. Four siblings, Rochelle Leonardo (Brett) of Wantage, NJ, David A. Cartee Jr., of Lakeworth, FL, Dean Cartee (Linda) of Fuquay Varina, NC, Damon Cartee (Amanda) of Redondo Beach, CA, uncle, Ronald McLean (Catherine) of Jacksonville, FL, mother in law Patsy Otero of Las Vegas, NM, and very close and special friends Andrew and Sheryl Howarth of Albuquerque, NM. He had numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, extended family, neighbors, and friends. We can not forget the fur babies, Gizmo and Toto and all the animal grandchildren.

Mrs. Cartee and her children would like to express their thanks and appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff on the Neuro Sciences ICU at UNMH for the outstanding care and support they gave Steven and for treating his wife and children like family, making their last days together extra special. They would also like to thank Dr Shvarts, Dr Yang, their colleagues and staff and the Barrow Neurological Institute’s Epilepsy Center in Phoenix, AZ, for their efforts to give Steven as normal a life as possible, and of course many thanks to Dr G. Michael Lopez and his staff for the many years of primary care.

Per Steven’s wishes, there will be no religious service, however his family will be having a Celebration of Life for him at the family home at a later date.

When considering charitable donations, please think of the Epilepsy Foundation of New Mexico. February 9, 2026 is International Epilepsy Awareness Day and November is National Epilepsy Awareness month. Remember to wear dark purple in Steven’s memory.

Cremation has taken place and services are under the direction of Trujillo Family Funeral Home in Albuquerque, NM.