Ebby Jane Steppach

Ebby Jane Steppach was born March 31, 1997 at 6:30 a.m. She died October 25, 2015, the day her car was abandoned at Chalamont Park in West Little Rock. She was survived by her parents, Laurie and Michael Jernigan; her father, Peter Steppach; her sister, Harris Elizabeth; brother, Trevor; stepbrother, Ethan; her grandparents, Bill and Peggy Holman, and Debi and Richard Steppach; uncle, Tim Steppach, and many more loving members of the family. The family refers to her as "Ebster" and "Ebjane" but most knew her as "Ebby Jane". She was to be a 2016 Central High School graduate and her dream was to be a cosmetologist and real estate agent. She was studying two languages, Spanish and Turkish, and was learning Hebrew with her "Grandma Debi". She loved children, the color purple, good music and hot pockets. She was fancy and loved the sparkles of dressing up with lipstick and the newest hair styles. Ebby was beautiful in a dress or in a ball cap and her laugh was conta-gious. She loved the Lord and cared so much for others especially if she felt they had been wronged. She was loyal, battled for the underdog and would lay down her life for those she truly cared about. Her heart was so big and with it, she loved fiercely. She never left a room unless she knew you were smiling. If there was a disagreement, she always asked for forgiveness to make things right. She could never keep a secret if someone told her something that might hurt them and would break a friendship code to ensure their safety. Her family was so important to her. She adored all her grandparents and loved spending time with them. She was from a family of talented artists and loved photography most. She was a true artist. Her favorite place was the beach. She loved the sand, the ocean, the wind and collecting seashells. She was 10 years old during a vacation when a tropical depression was going to last for seven days. Ebby wanted to go out to play and her mom said "We're praying the storm away." She walked right out into the storm and "prayed it away" and the rest of us watched the sun come out and the rest of the week was full of sunshine. Ebby and her mother, Laurie, had a very close mother - daughter relationship, "I knew when she took a breath, her first breath, that we would be close and that she would be a very special young lady. Sometimes a mother just knows what their child can't say and we were like that. The beach was one of our favorite places and I will always feel as if she's still there with me. The family of Ebby Jane is not sure why this has happened but God does and has used her life for the greater good. Ebby's disappearance has resulted in a higher awareness of missing children in Arkansas, the existence of human trafficking in our country and the need for more efficient police protocols to retrieve children sooner when they are reported missing. Thank you all so much for loving her. The family has asked you to pray with them to thank God for her life, that through her tragedy, many more young women will be saved. Many thanks to Little Rock Cold Case Detective, Tommy Hudson, and the Cold Case Unit, Captain Russell King, Chief Wayne Bewley, along with Boyd Boshears and his FBI colleagues. Without these outstanding men of integrity taking over her case, Ebby would never have been found. In addition, the family thanks H.A.L.O. Investigations and local private investigators, Monty Vickers and Tom James. A Celebration of Ebby's Life will be held at Christ Community Church, at Warrior Hall on the campus of Little Rock Christian Academy Campus, Saturday, May 26th at 2 p.m. and officiated by Pastor Tim Lundy and Music Pastor, Ron Marrow. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to nonprofit organizations, H.A.L.O. Investigations and T.H.O.R.N. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.