Steven K Spafford Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Steven K. Spafford, 56, passed away on November 24, 2014, at is his home in Lehi, Utah, after a fearless battle with cancer. He was born on November 27, 1957, in Tooele, Utah, to Nelson and Enid (Webb) Spafford. He married Valynn Atkin in August 1982 in the Jordan River Temple. They divorced in 2001. They had four children together, Tyler, Jeff, Karlee and Nick. Steve later married Lesli Swenson on February 1, 2003, and gained five step-children, Kacee, Chad, Jeremy, Daniel, and Brian. He was raised in Tooele, Utah, where his favorite early memories included playing Little League Baseball, high school basketball, and golf. After graduating from Tooele High School in 1976, he joined the Navy. In the Navy, he served as an Operations Specialist First Class, and finished his career as a recruiter. During this time, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Weber State University. He retired from the Navy in December 2002, after serving for 26 years. Steve’s greatest love, besides Lesli, was golf. He could be found on the golf course nearly any day of the week, and would brave the elements to get in 18 holes. He made many great friendships on the links. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, and was always the “behind the scenes guy” who made every occasion special. Steve was a chef and loved to feed the masses. He was a devoted fan to the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs, but his all-time favorite team was the University of Utah Utes. His greatest joy was his family. He was proud of all of his children. He looked forward to any event that would bring his family together. Steve went to great lengths to make those times special. He had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren. Steve is survived by his wife: Lesli Spafford; his children: Tyler (Rachel) Spafford, Jeff (Alisa) Spafford, Karlee (Brett) Murray, and Nick Spafford; his step-children: Kacee (Mike) Bartholomew, Chad (Ty Georg) Cox, Jeremy (Jean Kelly) Cox, Daniel (Mallory) Morris, and Brian Gabbitas; his grandchildren: Adilynn, Luke, Paislee, Isaac, Sander, Kaine, Lucy, Mack, Hannah, and Alex; his siblings: Janeale Hager, Bill (Barb) Spafford, and Wayne (Debbie) Spafford. Steve was preceded in death by his parents: Nelson and Enid Spafford; and his sister: Carol Parmley. A viewing will be held at 11:00am on Monday, December 1, 2014, at the Camp Williams Chapel located at 17111 S. Camp Williams Rd., Bluffdale, Utah. Funeral services will begin at noon. A graveside service will follow at 1:00pm at the Utah Veterans Cemetery at the same location. It was Steve’s wish that his services be informal and that dress be casual. He hoped that this would be a celebration of his life in an atmosphere of love and inclusivity for all the people who touched his life. Steve’s family would like to thank all those people who showed their love and support during his illness. It was such a comfort knowing that so many people were rooting for him. Fore!

Steven K Spafford

November 27, 1957 - November 24, 2014