Gary Joel Stephens passed away peacefully on Monday March 28,2022, at his residence, with his loving wife Carol by his side. Born on May 17, 1959 to the late Joel D. and Loretta (Sydorowicz) Stephens, Gary married the love of his life, Carol (Spuller) Stephens, on November 7,1986.

As a child, he loved all sports, but especially ice hockey. He played for local clubs in his teens and twenties, and anywhere in the neighborhood that he could make an ice rink. Gary spent the summers of his youth in Alabama, staying with family that helped establish the morals and ethics that made him the man he became. Gary was proud of his Alabama roots, and he was an avid Crimson Tide fanatic -- ROLL TIDE! -- enjoying music, writing, fishing, hunting and working with his hands – adopting CB radios as a passionate hobby post-retirement, meeting people he would call friends until his last day.

He served as a Combat Engineer in the United States Army from 1980 until his Honorable Discharge in 1984. As a truck driver for the New York State Department of Transportation, he was named President of the CSEA Local Union, fighting tooth and nail for his fellow workers, and after moving to Ransomville in 1999, entrenched himself in his new community as a volunteer firefighter for the Ransomville Fire department from his first year living there until his retirement in 2011.

Gary will always be remembered for his unique sense of humor, and his kind and compassionate ways. Gary loved and befriended many people over the years – making even more laugh with a story. He had a way of mentoring those in need and protecting anyone through all of life's struggles. He would never turn away a person in need, even if he had to go without. Gary was our family's angel!

In addition to his wife, Gary is survived by his two children, Joel Edward (Courtney) and Lauren Elizabeth (Lon), and one grandchild, Cameron Elizabeth. He was the proud son-in-law of the late Edward Earl and Rosalie Spuller.

In addition to his beloved family, he is survived by his three sisters: Joanne Stephens, Becky (Robert) Ventry and Susan (Scott) Jarvis; his sisters- and brothers-in-law: James (Kathy) Spuller, Robert (Linda) Spuller, & Gary Spuller; a number of cherished nieces and nephews: Laura Spuller ("Bro"), Melissa (Ken) Bovanizer, Robert Ventry Jr., Eugene Fiorotto, and Scott Jarvis; and his great niece Coryn and nephews Ronnie Hill, Kenny Jr. and Stephen-Joel Bovanizer, along with a multitude of friends, and family from his Alabama roots.

A Celebration of Gary's life will be held at a later date to be announced. Memorial offerings may be made to Save-A-Pet of Niagara County, saveapetniagara.com. Visit mjcoluccifuneralchapel.com for online condolences.