Gary Speas
Gary Owen Speas, 83, formally of Liscomb and Marshalltown, Iowa passed away peacefully in Chandler, AZ. on March 8, 2026. Gary was born on Oct. 27, 1942, in Davenport, Iowa, to Paul and Maxine Speas. He was a 1961 graduate of Marshalltown High School and received his master’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Iowa in 1967. He married Eleanor Horton in 1963 and to this marriage were born two sons, Stephen Duane, Sept 30, 1963, and Daniel Owen, March 21, 1971.
Gary was a member of the 1961 and 1962 Iowa State basketball champion teams and played briefly at Iowa State University. He was a licensed real estate agent for Better Homes and Gardens and worked with former high school coach Ev Cochrane to help build Bobcat Estates as well as numerous homes in the Marshalltown/Ames area. His PT work took him from Iowa & Illinois and eventually to Arizona where he and former teammate Don Nelson formed a partnership called Arizona Contact Physical Therapists (ACPT) which had offices in Tuscan and Phoenix. The company concentrated on home visits and contracted numerous therapists for these visits. Gary made some trips to the poor sections of India with his pastor to provide free PT equipment and offer his services for therapy. Helping the young and widows was a great joy to him.
Left to mourn his passing are his son Daniel (Juliet) Speas, of Tempe of Tempe, AZ, brother Mark (Carolyn) Speas, of Katy, Tx.; granddaughters Samantha (Nish) Menon and Catherine Speas along with numerous nieces and nephews. In death Gary rejoins his parents Paul and Maxine, ex-wife Eleanor (Horton Speas Smith), and son Stephen.