Stephen Michael Stradley, 28, of Vero Beach, passed away unexpectedly on March 6, 2016, as the result of an automobile accident.
He is survived by his mother Larette Stradley; sister Juliana Stradley; father Scott Stradley and stepmother Toba Stradley, all of Vero Beach; maternal grandmother Dori Lyons of Naples; paternal grandmother Shirlee Stradley of Port St. Lucie; uncles, aunts, cousins and his beloved dog Kaylee.
He was preceded in death by his three grandfathers Otto Lee Stradley, Lawrence Haines Strickland and Edwin James Lyons all of whom he loved deeply.
Stradley was born in Sebastian to Scott and Larette Stradley. He always had a charming smile and concerns for his family, friends and community.
He was a member of the Home School Community. His high school studies centered on Aviation and he earned his pilot’s license as well as his high school diploma in 2006. He went on to study at Indian River State College.
He was involved in Dog, Rabbit and Steer 4H Clubs. He was a member of Boy Scout Troops 567 and 503, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout for blazing a hiking path along Historic Jungle Trail.
Stradley was a member of the Vero Beach Karate Association and earned his Black Belt. He was involved with state wide Civil War Re-enactments portraying both Northern and Southern soldiers. He also carried a love for his Scotch-Irish history and was very proud of his red beard. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hiking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, scuba diving, paint ball and competitive shooting.
He enlisted in the National Guard in 2010 and was a top marksman and shooting instructor for his platoon during basic training.
His friends and family will also never forget his love of The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. He was a true aficionado of all things sci-fi. He passed for Obi Wan Kanobi at the last Comic-Con in Tampa.
He had recently begun a career in banking and was proud of his second job at Big Apple Pizza where he had many friends and was able to fund his extracurricular activities.
The family is asking that Memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scout Camp Oklawaha in Sebastian. Stephen and his family spent many wonderful times there: Gulf Stream Council, 8335 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Attn: Stephen Stradley Oklawaha Memorial Fund.
The funeral will be held at Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach, Sunday, March 20, with reception at 3 p.m. and service at 4 p.m. A guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.