Stephen Ray Finch's Obituary
Stephen Ray Finch, 74, passed away on Tuesday, October 12,2021, after a two year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born to Ray Finch and Marguerite Harris Finch on February 1, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee. Steve was a lover of all sports, especially baseball and football, both of which garnered him All-Memphis recognition, as well as basketball and golf. He always enjoyed watching the Cardinals, Tigers, and Grizzlies. He attended Cherokee Elementary, Sherwood Junior High, Messick High School, and then college at LSU and Memphis State. Being a teacher and coach at Wooddale Junior High and Middle School was his vocational passion. During his 31 years spent teaching Health and Science, he is fondly remembered by his numerous students. His laughter, smile, endless jokes, and unparalleled ability to connect with his students are what set him apart. He coached football, baseball, and basketball. Steve demonstrated his compassion, morals, dedication, and drive to educate, and his school kids recognized and appreciated his commitment and respect for them.
Steve never met a stranger. He was able to make friends with anyone, from his co-workers to church members to strangers in lines. He had a beautiful, quick wit that put others at ease and invited them to laugh with him. The love he had for his family was palpable. Deeply in love with his wife Kay, he vowed to haunt his doctors if they didn't help him make it to his 50 year wedding anniversary in June 2021. The two had a lovely anniversary celebration and dinner together. They took many trips and had cherished adventures. Steve loved photography and took stunning photos of their travels to the Smoky Mountains, Palouse, Bryce Canyon, Glacier, the Canadian Rockies, Zion, Capitol Reef, Rocky Mountains, the Tetons, and their beloved Yellowstone. He traveled to Australia to visit his daughter and loved photographing the local wildlife, capturing kangaroos and cockatoos in their natural habitat.
His favorite pastime of playing golf after retirement led him to create a group of special and dear friends who valued his company even more than his short game. Each week, even when the golf ball didn't cooperate, the company he had made his days better. He would often practice at his in-laws' home in East Tennessee, teaching his children how to chip and putt. Steve loved his children more than could be measured. He made their childhood fun, creating games to amuse them and keep them from causing trouble. Steve would make faces, play on the floor, and take them to places around the US. During school vacation he and Kay would take the kids to St. Louis to watch the Cardinals play, or to Washington, D.C. to learn about American history, or out West to explore the natural beauty of America. He introduced them both to a love of music. His love and knowledge of music are what first connected him to Kay, and stayed constant throughout his life. He had eclectic tastes and knew everything from classical to country, rap to pop. Music was a big part of his life and truly created a soundtrack for his days.
He was strong. He was kind. He had such a unique and astounding sense of humor and loved jokes. He changed his little corner of the world in ways that touched others, rippled out, and will never be forgotten. He is survived by his wife, Kay, his children, Stuart and Kelly, his grandchildren Miriam, and Emily and Eddie Oakes, daughter in law Ashley Finch and son in law Michael Oakes. He also leaves behind his sister, Lee Ann Cooper, brother in law Keith, and nieces Rachel Cooper and Carrie Abdel-Jaber, as well as his nephew in law You'sef and his great nephews Nabil and Sulaimon.
The service for Steve Finch will be held October 24,2021 at 1pm at Colonial Park United Methodist Church (5330 Park Ave, Memphis, 38119), with a visitation held one hour prior. Memorials may be given in his honor to the American Cancer Society and Colonial Park United Methodist Church.
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