Stephen C. McAnelly

Stephen C. McAnelly

July 4, 1944 - November 16, 2023

Stephen C. McAnelly of Decatur, 79, husband of Diana McAnelly (Clark), passed away at University Medical Center, Lubbock, TX on November 16, 2023. He was born July 4, 1944, in Decatur, Illinois to James Richard McAnelly and Jeraldine Dash (Willis). He was also raised by his stepmother Mary Elizabeth (Liz) Whennen who married his father in 1951. He moved to Mount Zion when he was in grade school and graduated from Mount Zion High School where he played football, basketball and ran track. He attended the University of Illinois and Milliken College while working at Mississippi Valley Steel Company before he went into the Air Force where he served 23 years. After basic training, he married Diana Lynn Clark on September 18th, 1965, they were married for 58 years. He obtained a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Mississippi. He was stationed in Florida, Mississippi, the Bearing Straits, Iceland, New York, Germany, and Nevada. He enjoyed reading, stock trading, playing softball, bowling, spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter. He ran the Young American Bowling Alliance and Traveling league while stationed in Sembach, Germany. He was a Yankees, Green Bay, Bears and Celtics fan. He retired from the Air Force on October 1, 1988, and went on to work for EG&G where he retired in September 2004. In his retirement he started working with Find a Grave to include Portales and various cemeteries in Texas to clean up and locate graves so loved ones could visit them. He enjoyed restoring the name plates for the graves of veterans and helped create documents to help update cemetery records. He was a loving family man, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Stephen is survived by his wife Diana McAnelly; his children, Stephen Craig McAnelly Junior, Laura (Scott) Smart, and Yvonne Baird; his grandchildren, Kyle Doolady, Ryan Doolady, Jessica Baird, Meagan Baird, and Camden Baird; his great granddaughter, Arya Lynn Gingery-Doolady. He is also survived by his brothers Bill (Carol) McAnelly, Charlie (Linda) Willis and his sister Paula (Eric) Lane as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was cremated at Combest Family Funeral Homes and Crematory in Lubbock, Texas. We will carry your memory in our hearts.