Stephen "Steve" K. Gray

Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Bettendorf, 3593 Middle Rd, on Saturday, June 10 at 11:00 a.m. with a time of fellowship and interment to follow. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday, June 9 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Memorials may be gifted in Steve’s honor to the River Bend Food Bank.

Steve joined his ten-year-old sister Sally, on May 26, 1950, to complete the family of H. Keith and Bette (Wright) Gray. They lived in a two-flat home near the Village of East Davenport where Steve spent his childhood bicycling and sledding up and down the hilly (often brick) streets with neighborhood pals while his dad supported the family working at Wonderbread Bakery on River Drive, and his mom maintained the household. Sally was nearly grown, Steve recalled, by the time he knew she was around. Over the years their fondness for one another grew and remained obvious to all who heard them together.

Steve and his dad were especially close from the beginning (guys have to stick together, you know) and it wasn’t unnatural to see them hand-in-hand when he was a child, finding something sweet a small redheaded boy would love as they “hunted” together for the perfect snack at Wonderbread. Later they spent many lazy days fishing at the family vacation spot in Minnesota during the summers and vying for strikes at a local bowling alley during the winter.

Steve graduated from Davenport Central High School in 1967. Earning his way through college began on a bicycle delivering the local newspaper to the neighborhood. His transportation advanced to a golf cart while working the grounds for a local golf course. Later he was employed by Younkers and Memorial Park. That left little time for school activities. He did find time to be lead vocalist for a garage band, belting out the Beatles’ best during his high school years. Upon graduation, Steve enrolled at St. Ambrose and worked toward a degree in accounting. Using what he was learning at McGladrey accounting firm to continue paying for his tuition and gaining experience, he graduated in 1972 and began his 30-year career with McCarthy Improvement Company where he eventually became Vice President of Finance. He later joined Adel Wholesalers, Inc., as the Chief Financial Officer. Once retired, he began his own small business, CFO on Call.

With college behind him now, he married Margaret Curta in 1971 and two years later they began a family. Melissa was born in 1973 and Christopher “Chris” followed two years later, in 1975. Steve took to fatherhood with gusto and when Chris began playing baseball, Steve took a great interest in it (having played, himself, as a youngster) and began coaching the Little League. Long after the children graduated, Steve retained his interest in the game and joined a senior slow-pitch softball league, The Fossils, who played locally and nation-wide for years. The Fossils won the 2007 Las Vegas Senior Softball World Championship Tournament. What a glorious day that was for them!

In addition to Steve’s love of softball, he and Margaret began playing volleyball with a strong, energetic team at the Bettendorf Community Center each Sunday afternoon during the winter months. It was often followed with supper and fellowship together as a team. He continued jumping to return the ball for many years.

When time and his knees took a toll, he became an avid golfer, loving the outdoors, the challenge, and the guys in the two different leagues in which he played each week. Pickleball became Steve’s winter sport of choice, and he played three times a week even when vacationing in Mexico. He easily bonded with any team of any sport he played. His personality and his attitude always made him enjoyable to be around.

Steve married Bonnie Sparks on October 14, 2006, and built a home on the 9th tee box of Pebble Creek Golf Course near LeClaire. Their interests focused on giving attention to four grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. He was the model grandfather, offering avid attention and encouragement, attending games and meets, and coaching (in the back yard), often followed by a trip to Rudy’s, Harris Pizza or Whitey’s.

Steve and Bonnie enjoyed traveling to Mexico annually during the winter months, favoring Huatulco on the West Coast where the waiters and waitresses greeted him each year with huge smiles and hugs. One year he agreed to deliver a package to a daughter of the Italian Restaurant manager and the following year was repaid with a private evening beach dinner served by a personal waiter for he and Bonnie. The town guide favored Steve and waited for him in the lobby on the day of departure, bearing gifts and souvenirs and getting Steve’s promise to return. The pool boy always had a covered swing reserved for him and friends he’d met always had two spots saved at the banquet tables set up for outdoor fiestas.

Steve volunteered, through his membership in Rotary, as a math tutor to classes at Madison Elementary in Davenport. He also became a volunteer waiter at various fund-raiser teas and luncheons. Playing bit parts and assisting with staging as Princeton Players performed at the theater in the Community Center in Princeton, Iowa, were fun pursuits for Steve. His biggest challenge was when his character was killed in the first ten minutes and he had to lay there motionless for the next twenty minutes while the play progressed. Lying still on stage without giggling may be the only goal in life Steve didn’t achieve.

He looked forward to volunteering as a marshal on the 2nd hole at the John Deere Classic each year. He enjoyed tremendously having his picture taken with all the pros and grinning while they autographed a golf ball. Wednesday evenings were spent in choir rehearsal at the First Baptist Church of Bettendorf, where his booming bass voice joyfully sang the anthems even though he couldn’t read the notes! And the men in Steve’s Bible Study Class wouldn’t consider having anyone else read from the Bible as the pastor taught the meanings of the passages.

Steve’s joy was complete in providing service to glorify God for the people who came weekly to the FBC Food Pantry. He and the other church volunteers had enlisted the help of the local Kwik Stars, Aldi, HyVee, Starbucks and Fareway, and God provided. Steve was so glad that those stopping by always had meat when they left each week. Steve’s faith was strong and his heart was always honoring God in all that he did. And it showed in how he interacted with people of all ages. He was comfortable and active in any group he was a part of, adding humorous, unaffected quips to many conversations. Even the nurses, when he was so ill, were amazed at his good nature and humor. They rewarded him one day with a balloon bouquet in a smiley-face cup.

Steve’s family would like to extend their gratitude to all those friends and family members who graciously gave their assistance, sent cards and prayed relentlessly for Steve throughout his six-month struggle with multiple health issues. These trying times were eased greatly due to the heartfelt love and support of so many.

Those left to honor Steve’s memory include his wife, Bonnie; daughter Melissa (Brian) Keller of East Moline; son Chris (Megan) Gray of Aurora, CO; step-children Brandi (David) Wayt and Joshua Sparks (Michele Gravert) all of Davenport; grandchildren Colton and Lindsie Gray of Aurora, CO, Jack and Sophia Keller of East Moline; step-grandchildren Greg and Nick (Jessica) Wayt all of Davenport; brother-in-law Larry Lathrop of Davenport; niece Lori (Sam) Byrd of Davenport; nephew Mark (Dana) Lathrop of Knoxville, TN; close family friend Willa Curta of Dallas, TX; and numerous extended family and good friends.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Sally, and niece, Cindy Lathrop.