Graham, Stephen Dague 65, of Scottsdale passed away on March 24, 2017. Steve was born on September 14, 1951 in Enid, OK to JC and Sue Graham. Growing up in the farm town of Fairview, he excelled at raising steers, winning the 1966 Oklahoma Grand Angus Steer competition at the State Fair. After high school, Steve earned an economics degree in 1974 from Oklahoma State University. His parents asked him to consider a career in farming, but he had developed a passion for aviation. In 1977, he met Jana Thompson, who had prophetically wished to meet a nice, good-looking pilot. They married on August 4, 1978 and he was hired in 1983 by Southwest Airlines, months after their first child was born. Steve and Jana relocated to AZ in 1989, where he became a Captain for Southwest. He achieved an impressive flight record, without a single flight incident in 33 years, before retiring in 2016 as the 46th most senior pilot out of 8,300. His colleagues knew him as reliable, easy-going, and amicable. From 2005 to 2015, Steve and Jana spent half their year at their home on the Florida Space Coast. Steve loved the beach and treasured these experiences. Steve enjoyed hiking, meeting friends for coffee, studying stock market trends, and travelling. Steve and Jana drove from FL to AZ 10 times, visiting different cities each trip. They also frequented NY, where they enjoyed Broadway shows and dining at Junior's near Times Square. Steve's Christian faith shaped his love for others and desire for them to experience Christ's hope and salvation. Steve was diagnosed with blood cancer in February 2017. He passed away at the Phoenix Mayo Clinic Hospital in the presence of his wife and four sons. Steve is survived by his wife, Jana, sons, Carson (fiance, Delena), Barry (wife, Farrah), Beau (wife, Stephanie), and Zak. He is also survived by his grandson Weston, sister, Suzanne Thurman, mother, Sue, and nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, April 1 at First Southern Baptist Church, 5230 N. Scottsdale Rd. The family kindly requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be made to New Life Pregnancy Centers.
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