Boyd "Bud" Stackhouse

Boyd (you probably knew him as Bud) Stackhouse, 67, passed peacefully away surrounded by those he loved most on Friday, July 18, 2014 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. His spirit is carried on by his beloved bride and best friend of 45 years, Mary (Thompson) and the reason for his graying hair loss for the past 41 years, Jennifer Agan. He proudly leaves behind Jennifer’s husband, Shawn Agan, to carry on his legacy of constant reminders to his family to be safe, stay away from the crazies and by all means don’t read the “Times Democrat”. There was no prouder or happier moments for Bud than the days that his beautiful grandbabies entered the world and so much of his peace came from being able to just sit and listen to their laughter and watch them grow. Jake and Charlotte “Hope” will miss their Papa and we know he’ll be keeping careful watch over them always. Bud was born to Boyd Sr and Lelia (Kleist) in Muscatine, IA, on May 3, 1947. He grew up in both Wilton and Muscatine with his older sister, Kay. He fought and won against rheumatic fever as a boy only to have to “walk miles in the snow to get to school and slave at his parents restaurants”. We’ve all heard that before!As soon as he could, Bud moved to Davenport where he honed his skills as a pool shark/hustler and trouble maker while begrudgingly paying the bills by working at the Rock Island Arsenal (where he retired as an industrial specialist from 33 years later). On January 6, 1969 he caught a glimpse of a blonde beauty driving by while cruising the ones in downtown Davenport. After he and his buddy placed a bet on who could get a date with her, the race ensued and less than a year later he married his soulmate and that same blond beauty, Mary, much to her mom’s dismay(Mary Ethel Sebring). Little did Mary Ethel know that after the young couple had decided to essentially elope on November 8th, 1969, she would go on to describe him to every person she met as “the one she tried to run off, but the one she didn’t know what she would do without.”Though there was nothing he loved more than his family, he had many passions which included bass fishing, camping, Texas hold-em, Gunsmoke, Bonanza and his decade’s long pursuit of finding the country’s best bbq. Far and wide he searched and tasted and sauced and low and behold it wasn’t until this past year when he stumbled across what he knew was the winner of them all. Kansas City? Texas? Nope, right in good ol’ Eldridge where Bud and Mary had proudly lived for the past 3 years at North Scott Foods. With their new smoker that he raved about being “one of the fancy kinds”, we all agreed that their baby back ribs at this small town grocery store has everyone beat. We sincerely thank all of those who have surrounded our family with love and support during his illness. As too many know, cancer just sucks and it’s only because of all of you we were able to keep it together. These people include, but are not limited to, Dr. Appel for her compassion, kindness and concern. We will never forget your gentle touch and the smile on his lips when he heard your voice during his final hours. We also thank Dr. Berg, Beth and Diane at the U of I cancer center for their support and honesty. Bud would have wanted to tell his amazing neighbors that their friendship meant the world to both he and Mary. Jim and Lynne Allen and your beautiful girls, he couldn’t have thought more of you all. Dave and Sally Marshall and all of those in their little nook of the world, thank you for being such good and trustworthy friends. Part of his peace in the end was knowing that Mary has you all to lean on. To Carolyn Cole, there are no words. He loved you beyond them. He thought you were funny and ornery and awesome and knowing Mary has you as a forever best friend is more than anyone could ever hope for. Bud is currently reuniting with many of his favorite people including his parents, the whole Stackhouse clan, Mary Ethel Sebring and his idol, Ray Sebring, and that darn cat, Wims.Bud’s wishes included having no services, but we will be proud to celebrate his life with family and friends at a private event in September. Remembrances and condolences may be made to the family at www.cunnick-collins.com and any memorials can be directed to the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf.We love you, husband, dad, Papa, friend, uncle. The air conditioning is set high, the lights are turned off and we kept this obit out of the darn “Times Democrat”. You gotta be smiling now. Rest now. We got this.