Steven Reginald Clay

Steven “Reggie” Clay was born on September 17, 1954, in Davenport, Iowa, to the late Mark

Clay Jr. and Blanche Irene (Claypool) Clay. Reggie was the ninth of fifteen children, growing up

in a large family filled with love, connection, and resilience. He passed away on April 16, 2026,

surrounded by family.

Reggie received his early education in the Davenport Community School District and was a

proud member of the Class of 1974. During his working years, he was employed at the John

Deere Foundry and the Nuclear Plant in Cordova. He later retired from the Clay Window

Washing Service, where his dedication and strong work ethic were well known.

On November 26, 1983, Reggie married the love of his life, Sheryl Maxine Howard, in

Davenport, Iowa. Their union was blessed with four children: Steven, Staci, Kerri, and Kelli.

Shortly after their marriage, Reggie and Sheryl made their home in East Moline, Illinois, where

they built a life rooted in family and community.

Reggie was known for his warm hospitality and friendly spirit—he truly never met a stranger. A

gifted mechanic and the ultimate handyman, he was always willing to lend his skills to help

others throughout the East Moline community. Reggie also had a deep love for animals, great

and small, and found joy in caring for them. He held a special admiration for the East Moline

Fire Department and was deeply grateful for their patience, kindness, and hospitality—especially

toward him and his grandsons. Above all, Reggie had a special love for God’s most precious gift:

babies!

Reggie leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Sheryl Howard-Clay; his daughters, Staci

Clay, Kerri Clay, and Kelli Clay, all of East Moline, Illinois; his sisters, Ercie Gooding of Rock

Island, Illinois; Sandra (Roger) Smith of Davenport, Iowa; Janet Harris of Davenport, Iowa;

Marsha (Tim) Morgan of Taylor, Texas; Kathleen (Roy Sr.) Horton of Davenport, Iowa; Audrey

Clay of Davenport, Iowa; Sharon (Charles) Bland of Georgetown, Texas; Christine Clay of Rock

Island, Illinois; and Lorri Clay of Davenport, Iowa; and his brothers, Thomas Clay of Kansas

City, Missouri; Craig (Carol) Clay of Davenport, Iowa; and Eric (Shaune) Johnson of Davenport,

Iowa.

He is also lovingly remembered by his grandchildren: John, Stephon, Shakyra, Cashmere,

NaToria, Cornelius, and Camauri; as well as his special friends, Jerry Edwards, Bill Green,

Leonard Kyle, and Michael Tygart.

Reggie was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Steven Jr.; his sisters, Beverly Steward and

Joann Tatum; his sister-in-law, Gwendolyn Kelly; and his nephews, Michael Clay and Angelo

Pate.

Reggie’s legacy lives on through the many lives he touched with his kindness, generosity, and

unwavering love for family. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, East Moline.  Visitation will be one hour prior to services. Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa.  Anyone wishing to attend must be at Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd. no later than 9:15 a.m.   Memorials may be made to the family.  Sullivan-Ellis Mortuary, Ltd. is assisting the family

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Steven Reginald Clay, please visit our floral store.