Roll Call Tribute
John Stephens '64 August 24, 2011 9:14 AM
Published in GoSanAngelo from August 24 to August 25, 2011
John Andrew[s] Stephens
EDEN John Andrews Stephens soared to his eternal home and glory with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, at the age of 68; whole once again. Family and friends visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Eden Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Eden with interment in Eden Cemetery.
John was born in Paris, Texas, on Nov. 25, 1942, to Cary and Martha Stephens. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bob Stephens; a sister-in-law, Billie Carnes Stephens; and a nephew, Benjamin Stephens.
The Stephens' family moved from Denton to San Angelo in 1954, when John was in junior high. He graduated from Central High School in 1960, and attended Texas A&M College, where he graduated in 1965, with a B.S. in agricultural science education. He moved to Balmorhea for his first teaching job. There he met the love of his life, Patricia Winters. They married on Dec. 27, 1967, in Balmorhea. In the fall of 1967, John moved to Burnet, Texas, to teach with his college friend, Ronnie Patterson, at Burnet I.S.D. In 1971, he and Patricia moved to Eden where he managed Harold and Jess Stephens' farming and ranching enterprises. John operated a livestock hauling business for several years. He also owned and operated the Texaco gas & oil distributorship, managed Stephens' Grain & Elevators and the Eden Wool & Mohair Feed store. Later, he and Craig Pfluger consolidated the Texaco and Gulf wholesale businesses into Eden Oil Marketers. In 1986, John resumed his teaching career at Eden CISD as the ag teacher. He taught until his car accident in 2002. Throughout his adult years he farmed and ranched on the side, particularly enjoying it when his son, Josh, was able to join him.
John was a member and a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Eden where he led the music for 22 years. He taught young boys in a Royal Ambassador group and Sunday school class for several years. John was a member of the Eden Lion's Club, Eden Service Club and served as a trustee on the Eden CISD school board for six years. He also served as president of the Eden Booster Club.
John never met a stranger and genuinely loved people. He always had time to visit, encourage or help others. John always had many students that he would take a special interest in and loved to mentor. When Josh was young, he delighted in taking him and his friends camping on model-T trips; usually with the current pastor in tow. He also cherished being able to spend special times with his daughter, Brittany, on shopping trips (believe it or not) and dinner dates. His children were the joys of his life and he loved and cherished them.
John is survived by his wife of 43 years, Patricia; his son and wife, Josh and Jessica Stephens of San Angelo; his daughter and husband, Brittany and Clint Reichenau; and his precious grandsons, Gage and Ian Reichenau of Wall; he was also awaiting the birth of his first granddaughter from Josh and Jessica in November; his sister and husband, Susan and James McClanahan of Denton; and his brother and wife, Bill and Joyce Stephens of New Boston. He is also survived by his parents-in-law, Willis and Patty Winters of Plainview; his brothers-in-law and their wives, Will Ed and Cynthia Winters of Austin, David and Debbie Winters of Plainview and Stephen and Debbie Winters of Lubbock; 11 nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Special thanks go to his cousins, Betty and Harold Sellers of Houston and Sheri and Charlie Price of San Antonio. They took care of Patricia while John was in medical facilities in those cities. Thanks to Bertha and Patric Quiroz of Melvin for the excellent care they gave John for six years and to Russ Schumann for this past year. Thanks also to his faithful friends, Philip and Bobbie Lockett and the late Lavelle Tallifero, who would sit and visit with John and to his good friends, Jim Davee and Ben Rucker, who would come over and play the fiddle and guitar and sing country western songs with him. He also had his lifetime friends, Jim Henry Meier and Joe Arnold, who kept in touch. You helped brighten his days. We pray for special blessings on all the many friends, family and old schoolmates who kept John in their prayers for the past nine years. Thank you.
Pallbearers will be Neil Hendricks, Jerry McDonald, Paul McKinzie, Ben Rucker, Jim Davee and Craig Pfluger. Honorary pallbearers are Philip Locket, Harold Stephens; and his brothers-in-law, James McClanahan, Will Ed, David and Stephen Winters.
In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to The John A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship Fund at Eden High School, c/o Bonnie Click, P.O. Box 988, Eden, Texas 76837.
John Andrew[s] Stephens
EDEN John Andrews Stephens soared to his eternal home and glory with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior on Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, at the age of 68; whole once again. Family and friends visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011, at Eden Funeral Home. A celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Eden with interment in Eden Cemetery.
John was born in Paris, Texas, on Nov. 25, 1942, to Cary and Martha Stephens. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bob Stephens; a sister-in-law, Billie Carnes Stephens; and a nephew, Benjamin Stephens.
The Stephens' family moved from Denton to San Angelo in 1954, when John was in junior high. He graduated from Central High School in 1960, and attended Texas A&M College, where he graduated in 1965, with a B.S. in agricultural science education. He moved to Balmorhea for his first teaching job. There he met the love of his life, Patricia Winters. They married on Dec. 27, 1967, in Balmorhea. In the fall of 1967, John moved to Burnet, Texas, to teach with his college friend, Ronnie Patterson, at Burnet I.S.D. In 1971, he and Patricia moved to Eden where he managed Harold and Jess Stephens' farming and ranching enterprises. John operated a livestock hauling business for several years. He also owned and operated the Texaco gas & oil distributorship, managed Stephens' Grain & Elevators and the Eden Wool & Mohair Feed store. Later, he and Craig Pfluger consolidated the Texaco and Gulf wholesale businesses into Eden Oil Marketers. In 1986, John resumed his teaching career at Eden CISD as the ag teacher. He taught until his car accident in 2002. Throughout his adult years he farmed and ranched on the side, particularly enjoying it when his son, Josh, was able to join him.
John was a member and a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Eden where he led the music for 22 years. He taught young boys in a Royal Ambassador group and Sunday school class for several years. John was a member of the Eden Lion's Club, Eden Service Club and served as a trustee on the Eden CISD school board for six years. He also served as president of the Eden Booster Club.
John never met a stranger and genuinely loved people. He always had time to visit, encourage or help others. John always had many students that he would take a special interest in and loved to mentor. When Josh was young, he delighted in taking him and his friends camping on model-T trips; usually with the current pastor in tow. He also cherished being able to spend special times with his daughter, Brittany, on shopping trips (believe it or not) and dinner dates. His children were the joys of his life and he loved and cherished them.
John is survived by his wife of 43 years, Patricia; his son and wife, Josh and Jessica Stephens of San Angelo; his daughter and husband, Brittany and Clint Reichenau; and his precious grandsons, Gage and Ian Reichenau of Wall; he was also awaiting the birth of his first granddaughter from Josh and Jessica in November; his sister and husband, Susan and James McClanahan of Denton; and his brother and wife, Bill and Joyce Stephens of New Boston. He is also survived by his parents-in-law, Willis and Patty Winters of Plainview; his brothers-in-law and their wives, Will Ed and Cynthia Winters of Austin, David and Debbie Winters of Plainview and Stephen and Debbie Winters of Lubbock; 11 nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Special thanks go to his cousins, Betty and Harold Sellers of Houston and Sheri and Charlie Price of San Antonio. They took care of Patricia while John was in medical facilities in those cities. Thanks to Bertha and Patric Quiroz of Melvin for the excellent care they gave John for six years and to Russ Schumann for this past year. Thanks also to his faithful friends, Philip and Bobbie Lockett and the late Lavelle Tallifero, who would sit and visit with John and to his good friends, Jim Davee and Ben Rucker, who would come over and play the fiddle and guitar and sing country western songs with him. He also had his lifetime friends, Jim Henry Meier and Joe Arnold, who kept in touch. You helped brighten his days. We pray for special blessings on all the many friends, family and old schoolmates who kept John in their prayers for the past nine years. Thank you.
Pallbearers will be Neil Hendricks, Jerry McDonald, Paul McKinzie, Ben Rucker, Jim Davee and Craig Pfluger. Honorary pallbearers are Philip Locket, Harold Stephens; and his brothers-in-law, James McClanahan, Will Ed, David and Stephen Winters.
In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to The John A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship Fund at Eden High School, c/o Bonnie Click, P.O. Box 988, Eden, Texas 76837.
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