Stephen James Hallinan, 58, of Mooresboro, N.C. died Sunday, July 15, 2012 after a long battle with cancer.  From Los Angeles, Calif., he was born Oct. 10, 1953. He had lived in Polk County for the past 20 years and loved the area. He was a carpenter by trade, an avid trout fisherman and a United States Navy veteran.

He leaves behind his former wife, Lois Sneed Hallinan of Mill Spring; a son, James Lowell Hallinan of Landrum; a daughter, Anna Rae Sneed of Mill Spring; a sister, Jan Ragan of Orange, Calif. and many adopted four-legged children as well as many friends and extended family.

A celebration of life service with his favorite local singers, “Straight from the Heart,” will be held on Saturday, July 21 at his home, 1519 Beachwood Rd., Mooresboro, N.C. 28114.

Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., with the celebration beginning at 11 a.m.

Memorial donations may be made in his honor to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Dr., Shelby, N.C. 28150 or Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Road, Columbus, N.C. 28722. Steve was on the crew that built the shelter and dearly loved his animals.

McKinney-Landreth & Carroll Funeral Home in Cliffside, N.C. is serving the family. Condolences and memories of daddy and his jokes may be sent to annarae25@gmail.com.