AUBURN – Stephen "Steve" Allen Little, 68, of Auburn, Ill., died Monday, June 19, 2017, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Ill., after a long illness. Steve was born June 4, 1949, in Danville, Ill., the son of Cecil K. and Jewel Pedigo Little. The family moved to Normal, Ill., when he was four years old. Steve married Carol S. Annis on Dec. 19, 1971, at the Emerson Christian Church in Bloomington, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, Kevin, in 2016. Steve was a member of the Pawnee United Methodist Church in Pawnee, Ill. He graduated from Normal Community High School in 1967 and earned a B.S. degree from Illinois State University, a M.S. from Sangamon State University (UIS) in Springfield and a specialist's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He taught math for 35 years for Springfield School District 186 and was an adjunct math professor for Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield for 29 years. He loved math and especially its application in art, science, business and engineering. Steve enjoyed working with the University of Illinois Extension Illinois Master Gardeners program, helping the community at-large solve problems with plants. He spent time growing orchids and woodworking, and enjoyed photography. Steve is survived by his wife, Carol, of Auburn; his son, John A. Little, of Minneapolis and several cousins. Steve's family will meet friends from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 24, 2017, at the Ellinger-Kunz & Park Funeral Home, 530 N. Fifth St., Springfield. An additional visitation will be held at 2 p.m. until the time of the funeral service at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 25 at the Pawnee United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chuck Kurfman officiating. Burial will be Monday, June 26 at the Sunset Memorial Park in Danville. Memorials honoring Steve may be made to the Pawnee United Methodist Church, 402 Sixth St., Pawnee, IL 62558, or to the University of Illinois Extension Illinois Master Gardeners program, 700 S. Airport Drive, Springfield, IL 62707. Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee is serving the family of Steve Little.