Gary Earl Stephens, 69, passed away in his home in Fontana, California on Sunday morning, June 29th. Only son of Roy and Verna Stephens, and loving father to his only child, daughter Aleah Stephens. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, adventure, and friends far and wide who will carry his memories with them forever. Gary was far from conventional, so this obituary will be just that as well. Born on Christmas eve in 1955, he was already a spitfire, and he lived a long, hard, beautiful and sometimes messy life. In his youth, his friends remember him always riding in style with the coolest cars and bikes, and even in his 50’s he was still riding motorcycles and working with his hands daily. During his life, he worked for the steel company, he set up stages for giant music festivals, and he would fix your car if you asked him. An odd job was never too odd for him. He was always building something, fixing something, or collecting something. Gary was a friend to everyone. He would give even when he had nothing, because that’s the kind of man he was. If you were lucky enough to be loved by him, you know what I mean. He was funny, gritty, and full of magic. He was also a collector of oddities, animals, and good times. He knew how to keep people guessing, because he was constantly up to something new and exciting. He was a lover of music, and the louder the better. From The Beatles to The Styx, Hendrix to CREAM, the list is endless and his record collection displays that passion vividly. He was lucky to have been able to see many concerts over the years of working as pit crew, and always had a tour shirt with a story that went with it. Even at the end, Gary was truly a character; he had a booming laugh that could fill any room and long, wild hair that he refused to cut which matched his personality so well. He had the kind of fire in his spirit that never goes out, so while it’s sad he wasn’t allowed more time on this earthly plane, he leaves behind his love which lives inside us all. He also leaves behind his story, and he was always such a good a story teller. So for now I will do my best to tell his, so we can remember him and his light beyond his time with us here. I do not want us to lament his untimely passing, but celebrate a life lived to its fullest, and encourage all those who loved him to cherish our days we have on this earth, and live a life of purpose and passion.