Danny R. Stephenson, obituary

Danny Stephenson

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2012 at Veterans Park on the main stage in Lehigh Acres for Danny Ray Stephenson, 58, of Lehigh. Stephenson died On Friday, June 15, 2012. Immediately following the memorial service there will be a celebration of his life, a benefit that will include music, food, an auction, and children’s activities.

Family and friends of Stephenson, a Lehigh Acres, Florida resident since 1970, exerienced a huge loss when he died at Gulf Coast Hospital in Fort Myers.

Stephenson was born in Batesville, Indiana, and was known throughout Southwest Florida for his unique guitar playing ability.

He was the other half of the Danny and MeloDee duo that played at the Club Coach in Lehigh Acres for more than 26 years. His well-rounded style included folk, rock, zydeco, gospel, country, and bluegrass. He was most recently the lead guitar and bass vocal for Bill Gouley’s Golden Road Quartet, and he was lead guitar for the Moccasin River Band.

He had settled into his niche as a single act and was last performing on Sanibel-Captiva Island. As a second generation piano technician, he supplemented his music by tuning pianos.

He was also a youth advocate. Throughout his early Lehigh life he was active in coaching youth soccer. He also served for many years as athletic director on the Lehigh Youth Soccer Association board of directors.

He coached both recreational and competitive soccer teams, and was certified to referee both league and high school soccer. During the past three years Danny was DJ for the monthly Veterans Park teen dances, and he was DJ for the Lehigh Middle School dances.

He served as the treasurer and entertainment director on the Lehigh Spring Festival board of directors. Most of Lehigh will remember him as the “voice” of the annual Lehigh Spring Festival. He emceed every day of the nine-day festival from the main stage as well as being co-emcee of the festival parade.

Stephenson was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Townsend.

He is survived by wife, Judy Carter Stephenson; father, John Stephenson; brother, Jeffrey Stephenson; son, Chris Stephenson; daughter, Mistee Licari; four grandsons, and a niece.

In lieu of flowers, the family is working on establishing a special account at a local bank where donations can be made to cover medical expenses.